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.