Defence Minister Luke Pollard has called on social media companies to remove videos depicting dangerous driving, stating that there is "no place" for such content online. The appeal comes after a collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough resulted in the deaths of two police officers and five other individuals.
PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died when their marked armed response vehicle was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Passat. The Passat's occupants – Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, and the driver, identified as Saddington – also died in the incident, which occurred just seconds after officers had been pursuing the vehicle.
Investigators noted that a video posted on the TikTok account believed to belong to Saddington in March 2025 appeared to show him and four other young people involved in what seemed to be a police pursuit. The clip, which has since been deleted, was analyzed by BBC Verify and reportedly showed the car being driven on footpaths and parkland in Ormesby, Middlesbrough, with Saddington as a rear-seat passenger. Another deleted video from the same account allegedly depicted a joyride with a passenger smoking and the speedometer showing 100mph, followed by footage of a different car being set on fire.
Pollard's comments highlight a growing concern over social media trends that may encourage or glorify dangerous behavior, particularly among young people. The minister emphasized the need for platforms to actively remove content that could put lives at risk.
The incident has prompted discussions about the responsibility of social media companies in moderating content that could lead to real-world harm. The A66 collision serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of dangerous driving and the influence of online trends.