Police in Middlesbrough ‘had five pleas for help ignored by government’ before deadly gang violence that precipitated A66 crash
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Cleveland's police and crime commissioner, Matt Storey, wrote at least seven letters to the government since July 2024 warning that his force was "woefully underfunded" and struggling to protect the public, but only two received a response. The warnings preceded a fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough on 22 August, in which two police officers and five young men died, triggering a wave of gang violence and disorder across the town that has left some residents afraid to leave their homes.
PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, were killed when their vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway, seconds after a police pursuit was called off; the five occupants of the Passat, aged 17 to 23, also died, four of whom had previous convictions. Cleveland Police had to draft in 200 officers from other forces to contain subsequent unrest, which has included house-rammings, a machete attack and a fatal house fire, taking the total number of arrests linked to the violence to 24. The Home Office said it was "grateful" for the force's response and confirmed Cleveland Police would receive up to £197.8 million in funding for 2026/27, a 3.7% increase, while a review of the police funding formula continues.
- Cleveland PCC's funding pleas to government were largely ignored before deadly A66 crash
- Two officers and five young men died in the wrong-way crash on 22 August
- Violence and unrest have since gripped Middlesbrough, with 24 arrests made
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Cleveland Police serves Middlesbrough and the surrounding area in north-east England. Its police and crime commissioner, Matt Storey, is elected to oversee the force and speak up for local policing; government funding for forces is partly set through a national formula.
The A66 is a major road running past Middlesbrough. The fatal crash there involved two Cleveland Police officers and five young men in a car, and was followed by disorder linked to gangs, including attacks on homes and a fatal fire. The events matter to local residents and have placed demands on Cleveland Police, which brought in officers from other forces to help respond.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The commissioner’s warnings suggest Cleveland Police lacked the resources to prevent and respond to serious violence, and the limited government replies raise a reasonable concern that local needs were not heard in time. Adequate, fairly allocated funding is essential to public safety, and the force’s need to bring in 200 officers from elsewhere underlines the strain it faced.
The case against
The account does not establish that different funding or a government response would have prevented the crash or the later violence, so it would be premature to treat the deaths as proof of government failure. Police funding must be allocated across the country according to need, and the Home Office points to a substantial forthcoming allocation and an ongoing review of the formula.
Full account
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey has said repeated warnings about the force’s finances went largely unanswered before violence in and around Middlesbrough culminated in the fatal A66 collision. His office said he had sent at least seven letters to government since July 2024 about resourcing, receiving replies to only two. The Home Office said it had remained in regular contact with Cleveland Police and local leaders, and said the force would receive up to £197.8m in 2026-27, a cash increase of 3.7%.
Seven people died when a Volkswagen Passat travelling on the wrong side of the A66 near South Bank collided with a marked police vehicle in the early hours of 22 August. The officers killed were PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38. The five occupants of the Passat were named as Michael Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, and Cole Worthy, 17. One report said a police pursuit had been called off shortly before the collision.
The crash was followed by further incidents of suspected violence in the area, prompting Cleveland Police to seek around 200 officers from neighbouring forces. Police have made 17 arrests in connection with events following the crash and are examining whether incidents are connected to organised crime. A house fire in Grangetown that killed seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, 34, was not linked to the A66 collision by police.
Reports describe residents as worried about vehicle attacks on homes and other violence, with some saying they are reluctant to go out at night or report crime because of possible reprisals. Authorities have not publicly established the full chain of events behind the crash or confirmed that all subsequent incidents form part of one dispute.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 centres on Mr Storey’s claims that government had not adequately responded to funding requests, alongside the Home Office’s response and planned funding increase.
Source 2 concentrates on alleged gang disputes and vehicle attacks on homes, including a report that the house of Cole Worthy’s father was hit shortly before the crash.
Source 2 gives a figure of 17 arrests and includes residents’ accounts of fear; Source 1 focuses more on policing capacity and the wider official investigation.
Both reports say police have not linked the Grangetown fire to the A66 crash, despite placing it within the wider period of tension.