Police Force Awaiting £2M Promised After Fatal A66 Crash

Cleveland Police has not yet received the £2 million promised by the government in the aftermath of a car crash that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two police officers. The funding was pledged by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in August, following the fatal incident that occurred during a pursuit on the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland, Matt Storey, stated that the force is still awaiting the additional funds. The Home Office has indicated that the promised £2 million should be disbursed by the end of November.

The incident took place on August 22, when a Volkswagen Passat, carrying five young men, collided with an oncoming marked Cleveland Police vehicle on the dual carriageway. The two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died at the scene. The occupants of the Passat—Michael Robert Cahill, 23; Jakub Matusiak, 23; Makai Saddington, 18; and 17-year-olds Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy—were also killed in the collision. The Passat was reportedly traveling the wrong way down the A66 at the time of the crash.

On the morning of the crash, Cleveland Police had reported receiving multiple calls concerning dangerous driving by two vehicles in the area. One vehicle, a Volvo XC60, was described as ramming properties. Subsequent arrests were made in connection with organized crime, including an arrest the following weekend after another vehicle ramming incident.