SARAH VINE: When I read the horrific details of the A66 crash tragedy I have to admit I thought: I’m not sad those thugs are dead… I only wish they hadn’t also destroyed the lives of two brave police officers
The deaths of two Cleveland Police officers, PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matt Blades, 37, in a collision on the A66 with a stolen car driving the wrong way have prompted a strongly worded opinion piece by Sarah Vine contrasting the officers' records of public service with the criminal histories of the five young men who died in the same crash. The article uses the case to argue that a "two-tier" Britain exists, in which offenders face few real consequences while ordinary citizens and police suffer the fallout, and criticises a subsequent "vigil" for the deceased as an inappropriate display of support for known offenders.
PC Clough was a former soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining the police, while PC Blades was a former teacher and football coach who worked in Cleveland Police's armed response unit; both are described as having led exemplary lives. The five occupants of the stolen VW Passat, aged 17 to 23, reportedly had a string of prior convictions including vehicle theft, assault on a police officer and knife possession, and police suspect the crash may be linked to a gang feud. Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including a 16-year-old and a 55-year-old suspected of assisting an offender, while mourners were filmed setting off flares and riding motorbikes at a vigil near the crash site.
- Two police officers died after crash with stolen car on wrong side of A66.
- Five occupants of stolen car, aged 17-23, also died; had prior convictions.
- Columnist criticises "vigil" for offenders and calls for tougher consequences.
New here? Start with this
Cleveland Police officers PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matt Blades, 37, were killed when their vehicle collided with a stolen car being driven the wrong way on the A66. The stolen car, a VW Passat, was carrying five young men aged 17 to 23, all of whom also died in the crash; police are investigating whether the incident is linked to a gang feud.
Both officers are reported to have had long records of public service, while the five men in the stolen car are reported to have had previous convictions for offences including vehicle theft and assault. Seventeen people have since been arrested in connection with the case, and a vigil held near the crash site drew attention after mourners were filmed setting off flares and riding motorbikes.
The case has become the subject of wider debate in the media, with commentators using it to raise questions about crime, policing and how the justice system treats repeat offenders. The article referenced here is an opinion piece reflecting one such personal viewpoint on the events.