Liberal Democrats in Redcar constituency have complained to the Acting Chief Constable of Cleveland about police officers being pictured alongside Labour Party election candidates.

The photographs also include the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Redcar, who has appeared in others. In one of these pictures she appeared with both Police Officers and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The picture was actually “tweeted” by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and was subject of criticism in the Evening Gazette on 2 February 2015.

Lib Dem Councillor Chris Abbott, who serves on the Police & Crime Panel, said:

“As an agent and candidate at many Parliamentary and Council Elections in the past I was always told that in no circumstances could the local police be seen in photographs with election candidates. Has that situation now changed with the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner? Will the police be endorsing all candidates in the coming elections to balance things up?

“Labour should know that this is a misuse of public money and should not be putting pressure on the police to pose for their publications.

“Labour’s candidate Ms Turley shows a lack of mature understanding, lack of regard for the rules of electioneering and the need for our police force to avoid being placed in a position where their integrity may be questioned.

“It is only a couple of weeks ago when she was Tweeting faked photographs of her Lib Dem opponents.

“As a ward councillor concerned about anti-social behaviour problems, which appear to be escalating on the estate currently being re-developed at the junction of Roseberry Road and Mersey Road, I find it extremely annoying when local officers say they are too busy to attend meetings of the Neighbourhood Action Partnerships.

“These take place in each Council ward and the police often say they are too stretched to attend them all. Yet they can spare time to be seen around and be photographed with Labour candidates seeking election.”