Police Hour

📱 Hartlepool College introduces new mobile phone pouch system for students.

From Tuesday 2nd June 2026, students will be required to store mobile phones in designated phone pouches during the College day following distribution during tutor time on Monday 1st June.

Parents and carers are being advised that pouches can be purchased via ParentPay for £7. Students without a pouch will be expected to leave mobile phones at home.

The College has confirmed that any student seen using or carrying a mobile phone during the College day without a pouch will have the device confiscated until collected by a parent or carer.

“No pouch, no phone.” 📵

The move reflects growing discussions nationally around mobile phone use within education settings, concentration in classrooms and student wellbeing.

The street remains closed today. Follow Hartlepool News & Alerts for updates throughout the day.

Part of Church Street (near to Whitby Street) is currently taped off and CLOSED with a police presence following an incident early hours

Please avoid

No drama needed. Yesterday in London, two officers acted decisively with what they had to stop a terrorist threat.

Minutes earlier, it could have been routine policing. Instead, they were faced with an attacker armed with a knife who had already injured two people. That shift from ordinary to critical happens fast, and no amount of training fully replicates the reality when instinct takes over.

They chose to act. Because it was necessary. Because it was their responsibility. Because that is what policing demands in moments like this.

Beyond the headlines, this is the reality. Officers stepping forward when others are stepping back.

Wishing those injured a full recovery, and credit to the member of the public who stepped in to help.

🚨 Hartlepool Incident 🚨

Shocking scenes in Hartlepool today after a vehicle, which had reportedly been seen driving around earlier, was found on fire in the middle of a busy road.

The car had been covered in spray-painted messages, including “chase me” and references to Cleveland Police Matrix, raising serious concerns about what led up to this.

Eyewitnesses say the vehicle had been drawing attention before flames took hold, with thick smoke quickly filling the area and causing disruption to traffic and concern for public safety.

Thankfully, emergency services responded, but incidents like this could have had far more serious consequences given how busy the road was at the time.

⚠️ If you saw this vehicle earlier, or have any dashcam footage, it’s important to report it.

This kind of behaviour puts lives at risk and impacts the whole community.

An inquest has confirmed that court bailiff Jeff Blair, 55, died as a result of stab wounds following an incident while carrying out his duties in Shildon, County Durham.

The brief hearing at Crook Coroners Court formally established the cause of death. The full inquest has now been suspended pending the outcome of ongoing criminal proceedings.

Mr Blair, a former Durham Constabulary officer with 22 years of service, was working as a court bailiff at the time. He attended an address on Dent Street alongside a locksmith, where a confrontation took place and he sustained serious injuries. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital but sadly later died.

Robert Davies, 49, has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon, and affray. He remains in custody ahead of further court proceedings.

Police have maintained a presence in the area as investigations continue. Detective Chief Inspector Sharon Alderson described the incident as deeply upsetting and said it has had a significant impact on the local community.

Mr Blair’s family have spoken of their devastation, describing him as a much-loved son, father, partner and friend whose humour and warmth will be greatly missed.

Colleagues within the courts service, along with former policing associates, have paid tribute to him, remembering him as a gentleman and a genuinely kind individual.

The inquest will resume once criminal proceedings have concluded, at which stage the coroner will consider whether any wider factors contributed to his death and whether recommendations are required to help prevent similar incidents in the future.