Written questions by Vickers.

How many additional police officers have been deployed in Cleveland Police since July 2024.

The Home Office does not hold the data requested.The Home Office collects and publishes data biannually on the number of police officers, as at 31 March each year, in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.Table H1 of the data tables accompanying the publication includes the number of police officers available for duty by Police Force Area which excludes police officers on long term absence. Monthly breakdowns, including a figure for July 2024, however, are not available.

What steps she is taking to support local authorities in tackling illegal encampments.

The police and local authorities are equipped with a range of powers to respond to unauthorised encampments. These include long-standing provisions under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, as well as additional powers introduced through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.The response to unauthorised encampments is led locally, involving multi-agency collaboration between local authorities, police, and relevant services. This approach supports community engagement and ensures that responses are tailored to local needs.Statutory guidance issued by the Home Office sets out how these powers should be applied, including the importance of considering welfare needs and ensuring that any enforcement action is lawful, necessary and proportionate.The criminal offence in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, introduces penalties for those who cause significant damage, disruption or distress while residing on land without permission in or with a vehicle, and refuse to leave when asked. The offence is punishable by a prison sentence of up to 3 months, or a fine of up to £2,500, or both, and/or seizure of the vehicle.

What steps she is taking to upgrade road infrastructure serving (a) freeport and (b) industrial development sites.

We are investing £4.8 billion during 2025/26 to operate, maintain, renew and enhance the Strategic Road Network, supporting journeys right across the country, enabling connectivity and economic growth. We have committed to delivering several major road schemes which will service Industrial Strategy Zones including the A63 Castle Street supporting Humber Freeport, A52 Nottingham Junctions supporting East Midlands Freeport and Investment Zone, and Lower Thames Crossing supporting the Thames Freeport. We will set out our future plans for investment in the SRN through the publication of RIS3, no later than March 2026.

What recent estimate she has made of the number of knife crime incidents in the Tees Valley.

The Home Office collects information on the number of offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by the police in England and Wales at the Police Force Area level only.The latest published information for Cleveland Police, published by the Office for National Statistics, can be found in Table P5 here: Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables - Office for National Statistics

What discussions she has had with local authorities on co-locating justice and support services.

There have been no discussions with local authorities on co-locating justice and support services. However, this Government is committed to ensuring victims have access to support and information, and that this is delivered efficiently and effectively at a local level. We intend to commence provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which introduces a statutory Duty to Collaborate on relevant authorities, including local authorities, local policing bodies and Integrated Care Boards, to work together when commissioning support services for victims.The Duty aims to ensure local commissioners gain a better understanding of the needs of victims in their area, create a more strategic approach to commissioning and remove barriers for those seeking to access support. We will be consulting on the guidance on the Duty to Collaborate in due course.

What progress she has made on electrification of rail lines serving Teesside.

This government is investing significantly in the North East to improve transport connectivity and grow the economy. Following the recent Spending Review, the Tees Valley mayoral combined authority will receive funding to deliver local transport projects, such as a new platform at Middlesbrough railway station, through various funds, including the City Region Sustainable Transport and Transport for City Regions settlements (CRSTS and TCR). The Mayor is responsible for ensuring delivery of these projects and report regularly into the Department on progress. The Government currently has no plans to electrify rail lines serving Teeside.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of rail connectivity between Teesside and other major economic centres.

I recognise the important part that reliable rail connections play for a growing economy like Teesside. As well as allocating significant investment to reopen Hartlepool platform 3 in June 2024, which will allow more trains to pass through the station, we are working with train operators to make the best use of the available infrastructure and to improve reliability to deliver the services passengers need. My department has regular discussions with Mayor Houchen and other Northern leaders on their aspirations for a more connected and reliable rail service across Teesside and the whole North East.

What recent steps she has taken to reduce levels of antisocial behaviour in town centres in the North East.

This Government wants town centres to be vibrant, welcoming places where businesses thrive and people feel safe and come to shop, socialise and live.Police and Crime Commissioners are leading on targeted action to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour that blights our town centres and high streets as part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative. The work is being delivered in partnership with councils, schools, health services, businesses, transport providers and community groups all playing a role over the summer.Under the initiative, partners will use targeted enforcement, visible policing and place-based interventions to reduce retail and street crime and anti-social behaviour in over 500 town centres and high streets, including Stockton-on-Tees, across England and Wales. The full list of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative locations (also shown regionally) can be found here: List of Safer Streets summer initiative locations - GOV.UKIn addition, the Home Office is also providing £66.3 million funding in 2025-26 to all 43 forces in England and Wales to deliver high visibility patrols in the areas worst affected by knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour. Cleveland Police will receive £1,420,423 of this funding to use across the county.

What discussions her Department has had with police representative bodies on the (a) design and (b) eligibility criteria for a medal recognising medically discharged officers injured in the line of duty.

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.

What recent steps she has taken towards delivering a medal for police officers medically discharged due to injuries sustained while serving.

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.

What representations her Department has received from police officers’ associations on the introduction of a medal for officers medically discharged as a result of service-related injuries.

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of court backlogs in the North East.

For criminal courts, despite a brief fall at the end of 2024, the open caseload at the Crown court in the North East has steadily increased since 2022, with 10,678 open cases at the end of March 2025.For this financial year (25/26), this Government is funding a record allocation of Crown Court sitting days to deliver swifter justice for victims – 110,000 sitting days next year, 4,000 higher than the last Government funded.As a result of increased Government funding, the North East circuit will sit an extra 1,500 days in FY25/26, taking the total to around 15,000 days. The additional sitting time will be focused on reducing the time taken for a Crown Court trial to be heard.As of March 2025, the Magistrates’ Court criminal workload across the North East stands at 46,444 cases. This represents an increase of 6,206 (15%) compared to March 2024. As with the Crown Court, the Magistrates’ Court across the North East have seen receipts exceed disposals.For family courts, in public law the open caseload has reduced from 1,846 to 1,742 from May 2024 to May 2025, and in private law from 4,418 to 3,858 from May 2024 to May 2025. This means that we are delivering swifter justice and resolution for families and children.

What her planned timetable is for introducing a medal for police officers medically discharged as a result of service-related injuries.

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.

What steps her Department is taking to support hydrogen-powered transport solutions in the Tees Valley.

The Department for Transport (DfT) considers that hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives could play an important role in decarbonising the transport sector, particularly in heavier transport such as aviation and maritime. We are supporting research, development and deployment of hydrogen-powered transport including through the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrators (ZEHID), the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) and the Civil Aviation Authority’s Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge. The Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub Demonstration also provided dedicated funding to support the development of hydrogen refuelling stations and a range of hydrogen powered vehicles. The Government will continue to assess support for hydrogen-powered transport as evidence continues to emerge and will publish a new UK Hydrogen Strategy later this year, outlining government's vision for hydrogen. The Strategy will be grounded in evidence and set out clear priorities for collaboration with industry.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of prison safety in Category (a) B and (b) C prisons.

Safety in prisons is a key priority, and we are working hard to make prisons as safe as possible for staff and prisoners.We have specialist staff and equipment to stop the smuggling of contraband in prisons, such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones, which can fuel violence and create instability.Prisons face a range of factors which impact on their safety, and these often vary between types of prisons, which is why it is important that all prisons have local safety strategies that address the local drivers of safety, whilst operating within the approach set out in the national Prison Safety Policy Framework.

What steps he is taking to increase training placements for (a) nurses and (b) allied health professionals in the North East.

Clinical practice placements are mandatory for healthcare education and training, in order to support and embed the skills, values, and behaviours for the future National Health Service workforce. Financial support is currently available to placement providers in the form of a placement tariff for nurses and allied health professionals.As part of our 10-Yeah Health Plan, we have committed to reforming the clinical placement tariff system to ensure it drives clinical placement activity in the right professions and settings.The Professional Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery, being developed by the Chief Nursing Officer for England, will build on this to ensure that every nursing student spends sufficient time across a range of clinical settings, and will include a requirement for all students to have a high-quality experience in neighbourhood and community settings and social care.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Police Uplift Programme in high-crime areas.

The Police Uplift Programme supported forces in England and Wales to deliver the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023.The deployment of police officers is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constable and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Mayors with PCC functions.An evaluation of the impact of the Police Uplift Programme, which focuses on the impact of the programme on policing as a service, policing as an employer, and longer-term policing and crime outcomes is expected to be published later this year.

If she will publish a list of police forces without a named officer assigned to each ward.

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee set out commitments for police forces to implement by July 2025. These foundation commitments have now been achieved. The public can now expect forces to be delivering on the guarantee across England and Wales to ensure consistent and high-quality neighbourhood policing.As part of the Guarantee, all forces across England and Wales now have a named, contactable officer for each of their neighbourhood areas, and details of neighbourhood officers can be found on police force websites.

What support she is providing to legal aid providers in (a) rural and (b) semi-rural areas.

Citizens in England and Wales meeting the eligibility criteria should be able to access legal aid services regardless of where they live.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services, and it monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.The Ministry of Justice has undertaken a comprehensive review of civil legal aid and recently published its response: Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future, consultation response - GOV.UK. We have confirmed that we are increasing fees for all housing & debt, and immigration & asylum legal aid work. This is a significant investment of £20 million a year– the first increase since 1996. In addition, the Department is looking at other potential changes that could support providers, for example, (civil) contractual requirements regarding provider offices and limits to the provision of remote legal aid that providers say are burdensome. Any changes would aim to give providers more autonomy in meeting client need, while maintaining effective in-person provision for clients who need this.As part of the £24 million increase for criminal solicitors implemented in 2024, the Ministry of Justice is paying for travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in a small number of scheme areas with fewer than two legal aid providers.

What recent steps she has taken to improve road safety outside schools in high-traffic areas.

Local authorities also have a range of traffic management measures available to them to help improve safety outside schools including reducing speed limits, traffic calming, and introduction of a School Street where appropriate.  On 19 November 2024 Active Travel England and the Department for Transport published joint School Streets Guidance. The guidance is available at School Streets: how to set up and manage a scheme - GOV.UK The Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department for Transport is developing our road safety strategy, the first in over a decade and we will set out more details in due course.