The head of Cleveland Police has stated that gangs do not control Middlesbrough, but emphasized the critical need for additional funding and officers to tackle escalating crime. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller made these remarks in an emotional interview following the deaths of two officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, who died on August 22 when their vehicle was struck by a car traveling the wrong way on the A66. Five young individuals were killed in the collision.
Ms. Fuller explained that organized crime in the region is exacerbated by high levels of deprivation and unemployment. "When young people have little aspiration or hope, who don't have confidence in the state, then unfortunately criminals exploit these people," she said. "They give confidence, and they give them hope, and they give them aspiration. And sadly what that means is young people doing things without thought of consequences."
The Cleveland Police area, which includes Middlesbrough, currently has the highest crime rate in England and Wales. The force has been experiencing a series of car ramming incidents, often used for gang intimidation, and the recruitment of vulnerable teenagers for county lines operations.
Ms. Fuller described the deceased officers as "brave, committed, professional people who put the public before themselves." She noted that while the officers were on routine duty, the force has been advocating for increased funding for years. "We have been calling for better funding for many years now," she stated, referencing two direct funding requests during her four-year tenure. Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey has also highlighted a £2.4 million funding shortfall, equivalent to approximately 40 full-time officers, and previously asserted that government funding fails to meet the demands placed on the force.
While acknowledging a recent £2 million boost from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to address serious crime, Ms. Fuller stressed that £26 million is required to effectively combat organized gangs and street crime. "These are complex, multi-generational issues that will not be solved by policing alone," she told The Times. "It won't be solved overnight — and certainly not with £2 million." She further noted that the force deals with issues comparable to inner-city crime, but its budget does not reflect this.
Following the A66 crash, a wave of violence and unrest occurred in Middlesbrough and County Durham. In one instance, cars were set ablaze during a vigil for Michael Cahill, one of the five young men who died in the collision. Funerals for those involved have drawn large crowds, with one funeral for Jakub Matusiak seeing mourners requested to wear orange, his favorite color. Concerns over potential disorder led six schools in Middlesbrough to close at lunchtime on the day of Matusiak's funeral, a decision criticized by local Conservatives.
Police are investigating potential links between the five deceased individuals and serious organized criminal activity. Between them, four of the group had at least 37 previous convictions. Matusiak himself had prior convictions for driving without a license and using an uninsured vehicle, and had previously posted videos of reckless driving online.