New police crest to be rolled out 'gradually'

A police force says its new badge will be rolled out gradually as part of a plan to manage the costs.

Cleveland Police's crest has replaced a representation of the crown belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II with the one used by King Charles III.

The force said the proclamation of the new monarch meant police and other official organisations were required to make updates, but it was a "lengthy process".

It also confirmed there was no additional funding to make changes to physical assets, such as signs on buildings and the livery on vehicles.

A spokeswoman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service permission had only recently been granted for the crest following discussions with the government's Cabinet Office and the College of Arms.

She said: "You will see Cleveland Police's new crest featuring the King's crown appear on digital assets and other materials.

"However, more substantial and physical assets, such as building signage and fleet vehicles, will be updated gradually as part of a long-term rollout plan to manage costs.

"There is no funding provided for this change, as there is no additional budget required due to the way the new crest is being rolled out."

Last year, Cleveland Police's Chief Constable Mark Webster was asked about a rebrand for several of its teams – including the firearms, roads policing and road safety groups – which became a single "Matrix" team.

Vehicles were provided with wrapping carrying a Matrix logo, which includes a large "X" against a bright yellow background, which it was claimed provided a highly visible deterrent to criminals and a reassuring presence for the public.

Signs on a building used as a base were also changed, with the £20,000 overall cost coming from the force's existing budget.

Mr Webster said the Matrix concept, which originated with Merseyside Police, was "really good" and was "probably" among the best £20,000 spent by the force.

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