Ray Mallon

Ray Mallon
Mayor of Middlesbrough
Preceded by	New Office
Personal details
Born	1955 Thornaby-on-Tees
Political party	Independent
Website	www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

Ray Mallon (b. 1955 in Thornaby-on-Tees) is the directly-elected Mayor of Middlesbrough in England.

Early life

Ray Mallon was raised in Thornaby-on-Tees, a working class town near Middlesbrough and Stockton-On-Tees in the North East of England, the only child of Joe and Pauline Mallon. The area was formerly in North Riding of Yorkshire but under local Government re-organisation became part of the newly formed county of Cleveland in 1974.

His father was a coalman and then undertaker and a keen amateur boxer and from an early age Mallon was encouraged to maintain physical fitness. He was nicknamed "The Italian Stallion" after getting into a fight with a horse outside a parmo shop in Redcar. He remains a non-smoking tee-totaller who trains regularly to this day.

A keen swimmer, as a teenager he captained the under-20 Great Britain water polo team and went on to represent his country over 50 times. He has said that one of the main reasons he joined the police was because of the opportunity it gave him to train.

Cleveland Police

Mallon joined Cleveland Police on his 19th birthday in June 1974. He first came to national attention in August 1996 as a Detective Inspector at Hartlepool - one of Cleveland's four policing divisions.

Mallon had devised a policing strategy which he called "Here and Now' policing based on four principles of Education, Prevention, Punishment and Rehabilitation. The media however focused on the Prevention aspect which would become known as Zero Tolerance policing.

His tactics led to a 43% fall in all crime - burglaries by 71%, vehicle theft and criminal damage by more than 60%. This came to the attention of national Government and led to comparisons with the success of William Bratton, police commissioner of New York. This resulted in a television documentary being made and broadcast on national television in which Mr Bratton was brought to Hartlepool to meet Mallon and compare tactics. Mallon would subsequently pay a return visit to Mr Bratton in New York.

Mr Bratton said at the time: "Just like the RAF used radar for early warning in the Battle of Britain, Ray Mallon is proving that a strategy of timely, accurate intelligence, rapid response, effective tactics and relentless follow up can defeat overwhelming odds.' (Readers Digest May 1997).

In October 1996 Mallon was transferred to the neighbouring division of Middlesbrough and promoted to the rank of Detective Superintendent in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department.

He attracted attention again when he announced that if he did not cut crime by 20per cent in 18 months he would stand down. He met the target within a year.

Though Mallon has often been attributed with bringing “Zero Tolerance’ policing to Britain, the phrase itself means different things to different people.

An article in the Readers Digest issue May 1997 about Ray Mallon states: "Some call it "zero tolerance'. Ray Mallon says it is no more than good, basic policing.'

Asked on another occasion what he understood by Zero Tolerance policing Mr Mallon said: “It is about the police intervening on the street wherever they see crime or anti-social behaviour. It doesn’t mean arresting lots more people for so called “minor’ offences but it does mean that turning a blind eye is not an option.'

Whilst campaigning for the 1997 election, the then Home Secretary Michael Howard said: "I believe we should have zero tolerance of crime' (Daily Mail). And at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland 2000, Prime Minister Tony Blair said "It is no longer just Conservatives who talk of zero tolerance of crime.'

"Robocop"

Mallon was dubbed 'RoboCop' for his interventionist stance, taking the name from the 1987 Paul Verhoeven film of the same name.

He is not a fan of the title and does not promote it but accepts it has helped bring attention to crimefighting.

Michael Howard is believed to have been the first to attribute the sobriquet to Mallon. During a visit to Middlesbrough in early 1997 the then Home Secretary is reputed to have said: “In Britain we don’t have Robocop but we do have Ray Mallon.’

The Readers Digest piece on Mallon and his tactics in May 1997 did not use the term Robocop but posed the question “Is this man Britain’s toughest cop ?’

So high was Mallon's profile that Tony Blair, then leader of the opposition, staged his final photo-call of the 1997 election at Middlesbrough police station and brought his wife Cherie and actress Helen Mirren in support.

Operation Lancet

Operation Lancet was a criminal investigation launched into allegations that Middlesbrough CID detectives had offered drugs to prisoners in exchange for confessions. Initially Mallon supported the investigation and helped produce the evidence which led to two detectives being suspended from duty.

Indeed, at the initial press conference revealing the suspensions, Cleveland ACC Richard Brunstrom said: "We appointed Ray Mallon to implement a culture change. I believe it was because Ray was so successful that this evidence came to light.' (The Northern Echo, August 1997.)

However, Mallon became concerned that officers on the Lancet team were exceeding their remit, using it to settle old scores and were casting a shadow over everyone within Middlesbrough CID. He spoke out against the Lancet team and their superior officers.

In November 1997 Ray Mallon was suspended from duty as part of Operation Lancet. He was never accused of handling, dealing or taking drugs. Cleveland Assistant Chief Constable Robert Turnbull said Mallon had been suspended for “alleged activities that could be construed as criminal conduct’ and "allegedly passing on information about the inquiry to a third party' (Guardian and others)

An outside force was brought in to oversee Lancet which developed into a major inquiry. At one stage involving dozens of investigating officers from four different forces. Estimates put the total cost to local taxpayers at £8m.

Lancet caused extreme friction within Cleveland Police where it saw officers investigating fellow officers and relied heavily on the evidence of convicted felons.

In total over 400 criminal allegations were made against 60 officers and considered by the Crown Prosecution Service. On June 20 2000 the CPS issued a press release stating "It is our decision that prosecutions are not possible at this time as there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction against any officer.'

Although no criminal charges were brought, the Chief Constable of Cleveland, Barry Shaw, announced he would be continuing with an internal disciplinary inquiry codenamed Operation Eagle.

And Barry Shaw himself became the subject of an investigation into his running of Lancet. This was commissioned by the Cleveland Police Authority following complaints from two members of the public and was codenamed Operation Diamond.

Diamond was carried out by former Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Michael Hedges who concluded : “I specifically recommend that Mr Shaw should be held culpable for abuse of authority and breach of confidence.'

A secret session of the Cleveland Police Authority was convened and at its conclusion the chairman, Coun Ken Walker, announced he would be ignoring CC Hedges recommendations and no action would be taken against CC Barry Shaw.

Throughout his four and a half year suspension Mallon remained popular with the public. He was twice voted "man of the year' by his local BBC radio station and a petition demanding his re-instatement and containing in excess of 30,000 signatures was handed in to the Prime Minister.

In August 2001, over a year after being cleared by the CPS of any criminal wrongdoing, Ray Mallon resigned from Cleveland Police and announced he planned to stand for election as Mayor of Middlesbrough.

Mr Shaw however refused to accept his resignation until the outcome of Eagle. This hearing was originally planned for October 2001 but was postponed over wrangles about disclosure to February 2002.

The Mayoral ballot was set for May 2002 but Mallon could not stand for public office if he was still a police officer. When the February disciplinary hearing was again adjourned he immediately changed his plea to guilty on all 14 disciplinary charges. He offered no mitigation and asked simply to be dismissed.

He was “required to resign’ and on leaving police headquarters told the media he was innocent but had pleaded guilty because it was the only way he could leave the force in time to stand in the Mayoral election.

Time as Mayor

In 2002 he became the first directly-elected mayor of Middlesbrough, standing as an Independent. He won with 26,362 votes out of a total of 41,994 cast, and a majority of 17,000, from a turnout of 41.34%. His policies based on social justice and his working-class background were attributed to his success. It was also viewed by some as a protest vote against the Labour party.

Mallon outlined his plans entitled "Raising Hope Reducing Fear'. The title owed much to one of Mallon's favourite films "The Shawshank Redemption'. He bought a poster of the film when he visited Bill Bratton in New York and it carries the strapline "Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free'. The framed poster was on the wall of his office at Middlesbrough police station when Tony Blair visited on the eve of the 1997 election. It now hangs in his Mayoral office.

In 2005, visiting Conservative leader Michael Howard saw Mallon in action when he told police that when making arrests they should focus on protecting the public and themselves rather than the human rights of criminals.

Mallon is known to have been courted by both the Labour and Conservative Party however he has remained an independent.

Middlesbrough’s community wardens are usually attributed to Mallon. In fact they were created shortly before he took office though he vastly increased their numbers (to about 60) and put them at the forefront of plans to improve safety on the streets.

They played a leading role in removing aggressive beggars from the town centre and became regarded as a model force for other authorities after a government inspector described them as “head and shoulders above the rest’.

In Mallon’s five years as Mayor of Middlesbrough crime has fallen by 20per cent or, as Mallon prefers to equate it, by almost 6,000 victims per year.

He has also developed a far reaching regeneration strategy which has seen investors from as far away as Dubai visiting the town. In addition he has overseen the opening of MIMA (the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) and central square and the pedestrianisation of the town centre.

He also led a successful campaign that saw Middlesbrough win one of the eight large casino licences being granted by the Government. Amid concerns from some locals and religious groups, Mr Mallon has stressed no casino will be opened unless the developer agrees to a list of stringent safeguards outlined in the town's "Casino charter'.

In 2005 he launched the Reduction Agenda, an attempt to persuade people to live healthier lives through cutting down on fatty foods, alcohol and smoking. He has also replaced the Council's Mayoral limo, a six litre Jaguar, preferring to use electric or very low CO2 emission cars.

Describing himself, he said "I see myself as a businessman first and a politician last."

In March 2007 Ray Mallon announced he would stand for re-election at the May 2007 Middlesbrough Mayoral ballot. At the forefront of his manifesto is the 'Youth Agenda'. This is an attempt to link up the private, public and voluntary sectors to target young people at birth, primary school and late teens and divert them away from crime and addiction and towards good citizenship, a healthy lifestyle and a can-do attitude.

He was re-elected as mayor on 3 May 2007, with 17,455 votes out of 29,753 cast, approximately 10,000 more than his nearest opponent.

Criticism

During Mallon's time in power, plans were developed for the demolition of several housing areas (St Hilda's and Gresham ward) in central Middlesbrough, which have come under criticism from some local residents, who claim the local government both misled and failed to consult with them regarding the issue . This is disputed by the council who point to the numerous consultation meetings and leaflets issued on the matter

Complaints have been also made with regards to services for the disabled. The council has defended its service to the disabled.

Ray Mallon also come under criticism following the demolition of some of Middlesbrough's memorable old buildings, such as the 100 year old former Cleveland Scientific Institute on Corporation Road. The Local Planning Authority was, in actual fact, powerless to intervene as the building was not Grade II listed. On June 28th 2006, Mallon condemned the actions of local company The Mandale Group , describing it as “an assault on the Town”.The same company then also purchased, and then demolished, the art-deco Odeon cinema (also unlisted) almost opposite the CS.Inst.,thereby creating two major vacant and derelict lots in the heart of the town. As at January 2008 there are no signs of immediate development on either site.

Mallon's apparent resemblance to an ape is a running joke in several Teesside Tintin cartoons.

External links

• Middlesbrough council profile
• CityMayors profile