Cleveland Police Under Fire: Two More Sackings Highlight Major Ongoing Issues..
- Cleveland Police Exposed
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Despite reports of 'improvement' in the scandal ridden police force, two more of its officers have this week been dismissed for Gross Misconduct, leading to claims any reports of improvement are a smokescreen for an institution collapsing under the weight of its own corruption...
18th April 2025
Cleveland Police has once again found itself in the spotlight, this time with the recent dismissal of two long serving officers coming just a week after a PEEL report supposedly claimed the force was 'improving' in many of the departments previously determined to be 'inadequate'....
Detective Constable Andrea Murphy-King and an unnamed officer, referred to as PC 'A' were this week dismissed from the force without notice for Gross Misconduct, exposing deep-rooted issues within the force. Despite claims from senior leadership that the force is marching towards an upward trajectory, these high-profile cases of misconduct paint a starkly different picture of event within Teessides most corrupt public institution, raising serious questions about accountability, culture, and leadership within Cleveland Police, with the fallout from these incidents said to be sheading at least some light on the abrupt departures of the force’s Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable, signalling a broader crisis that's set to open up a Pandoras Box on Teesside....
The Cases: A Disturbing Pattern of Misconduct
Detective Constable Andrea Murphy-King, was a 24-year veteran of Cleveland Police until she was dismissed from the force without notice this week following a gross misconduct hearing.
On April 18, 2025, A local newspaper reported that Murphy-King was found guilty of drink-driving after being caught swerving on the A19 in her Mini Cooper. The officer admitted to consuming gin in a police station car park before driving, an act described as “horrendous” by even her own legal representative. Despite her claims of being “severely distressed” and suffering from a medical condition at the time, the misconduct panel deemed her actions indefensible, resulting in her immediate dismissal from the force. The case has not only said to have tarnished Murphy-King’s long & previously unblemished career, but also highlighted a shocking lapse in judgment from a senior officer entrusted with public safety.
In a separate but equally troubling case, its reported that PC 'A', an unnamed Cleveland Police officer, was sacked this week also after being found guilty of gross misconduct for sexually assaulting a woman. According to News report published on April 18, 2025, the officer’s actions were deemed a severe breach of professional standards, leading to his dismissal at an internal hearing. The lack of transparency regarding the officer’s identity has sparked further criticism, with many questioning whether Cleveland Police is doing enough to rebuild public trust in the wake of such scandals.
A Force sleepwalking into yet another Crisis, As Claims of Improvement Ring Hollow
Cleveland Police has repeatedly claimed to be making strides in improving its standards and restoring public confidence since being placed into special measures & branded one of the worst performing forces in the country just over three years ago. However, these two sackings—as well as numerous others this year alone occurring in close succession—significantly undermine those assertions and suggest that systemic issues within the force continue to persist. Cleveland Police has long been plagued by controversies in recent years, from allegations of corruption to failures in addressing serious crimes. The cases of Murphy-King and PC 'A' are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of misconduct that continues to erode trust in the public institution that's seen crimes across all areas of Teesside explode into epidemic proportions.
The drink-driving scandal involving Murphy-King is particularly damning, as it involves a senior detective whose role demanded the highest levels of integrity. Her decision to drive under the influence, coupled with her initial attempts to downplay the incident, reflects a troubling disregard for the law she was supposedly sworn to uphold. Similarly, the sexual assault committed by PC 'A' represents a betrayal of the public’s trust and raises questions about the vetting and oversight of officers within the force. These incidents are not just individual failings—they point to a culture where lapses in judgment and accountability appear to go unchecked until they eventually reach a breaking point.
Leadership Shake-Up: A Clear Symptom of Deeper Problems?
The timing of these sackings coincides with the recent announced departures of Cleveland Police’s Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable, a development that many believe is linked to the force’s ongoing struggles. Whilst the exact reasons for their exits remain unclear other than the usual 'ime supposedly retiring' statement, it’s hard to ignore the timing of the departures as being something that resembles once again the Cleveland police 'rats' leaving the sinking ship. The Chief Constable’s role is pivotal in setting the tone for organisational culture, and the fact that such high-profile misconduct cases continue to emerge under his watch suggests a failure to implement any meaningful reforms since his appointment to the role just over three years ago, something many claim will fail to change when the new Assistant & Chief & eventually parachuted in from their posts somewhere likely to be in London...
The departure of senior leadership could be seen as a quiet attempt to reset the force’s direction hopefully without many of the public really knowing about it, but it also risks further destabilising an already troubled organisation. Without a clear strategy to address systemic issues—such as inadequate training, lax disciplinary processes, or a culture that enables misconduct—new leadership alone will not be enough to turn the tide. The public deserves answers about why these problems at Cleveland Police continue to persist and what concrete steps are being taken to prevent future scandals, but the 'merry go round' of Chief Constables being parachuted in seems as if those at the top really don't know how to deal with the rotten force that's really starting to look like the unruly schoolchild of the classroom & worse still, no one really knowing how to deal with it !
Public Trust in Cleveland Police is at an All-Time Low
For the communities served by Cleveland Police, these incidents are more than just headlines—they're a stark reminder of the gap between the force’s rhetoric and reality.
Residents of Teesside and beyond rely on the police to protect their local communities, but cases like these fuel scepticism about whether officers are actually being held to the same standards as the public. The fact that Murphy-King was a long-serving detective and PC 'A' was entrusted with public safety only deepens the sense of betrayal.
Moreover, the lack of transparency in PC 'A’s case—particularly the decision to withhold his identity—has sparked accusations once again of a cover-up, further damaging the force’s credibility, especially in the wake of the Stephen Stead Murder during Operation Artemis. If Cleveland Police is ever serious about rebuilding trust, it must prioritise openness, accountability, and swift action in addressing misconduct, rather than relying on vague promises of improvement.
And whilst the force’s leadership may tout progress being made, these cases actually reveal the troubling reality: systemic issues continue to undermine the organisation’s credibility, with the departures of the Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable only serving to fuel further speculation that they were perhaps the next ones in the crosshairs to be under investigation for their conduct & jumped ..... before they were pushed !