Middlesbrough FC will hold a pre-match tribute to Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough as part of the Middlesbrough FC A66 tribute ahead of Saturday’s 12.30pm home fixture against West Bromwich Albion, following the deaths of the two Cleveland Police officers in last weekend’s head-on collision.
Pc Blades, aged 37, and Pc Clough, aged 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank collided with their vehicle. Cole Worthy, 17; Theo Rae, 17; Makai Saddington, 18; and 23-year-olds Michael Cahill and Jakub Matusiak also died in the crash.
What Middlesbrough FC said about the A66 tribute
The club issued a statement calling on supporters to join them in marking the officers’ service. ‘Immediately before kick-off, we’re asking supporters to join us in paying respects to Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough, the two Cleveland police officers who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty last weekend,’ the club said.
‘We are also showing our appreciation for the dedication and hard work of both men, and to Cleveland police force in protecting and supporting our local community. The commitment shown by officers and staff, often in challenging and demanding circumstances, plays a vital role in keeping residents safe and helping people feel secure in their homes, neighbourhoods and local areas.’
The King has also written to the families of both officers to offer his condolences, according to the Mirror.
IOPC investigation and what happened on the A66
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the collision following a self-referral from Cleveland Police, which is mandatory when someone dies following contact with police, the BBC reports. The IOPC investigation runs alongside Cleveland Police’s own ongoing inquiries into a series of incidents in the area.
A police pursuit began before the car entered the A66 and the collision occurred at approximately 3.39am. The sequence of events leading up to that moment will form a central part of the IOPC’s work.
24 arrests as Cleveland Police tackles organised crime
Cleveland Police confirmed that officers have been addressing alleged organised crime in the aftermath of the crash. By Friday night, 24 people had been arrested as part of the crackdown.
Four men, aged 35, 25, 40 and 21, are being held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life after a vehicle collided with a house in Steele Crescent, Middlesbrough, on Thursday morning. The same four are also being questioned in connection with alleged arson after a caravan was set ablaze on Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, as well as a drugs-related offence. Officers intercepted the men while they were travelling in a vehicle on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday night.
Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they were not connecting a house fire in Grangetown to the A66 crash. Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster, a seven-year-old girl, died in that blaze on Wednesday morning, with four others sustaining injuries. Two men, aged 23 and 31, remain in custody on suspicion of murder in connection with that fire.
Hundreds of additional officers have been deployed across the Middlesbrough and County Durham area to bolster local forces.
PCC calls for long-term funding deal
Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matt Storey, described the preceding week as ‘the most tragic’ in the area’s history. He praised officers for their dedication but was direct about the structural problem his force faces, stating that ‘the outdated and ineffective funding system’ for policing ‘disadvantages’ Cleveland Police.
Storey confirmed he had held discussions with the policing minister on Friday. ‘I have reiterated my request for a better, long-term, funding deal to enhance Cleveland’s response to serious and organised crime,’ he said. ‘People in Cleveland have the right to live without the fear of crime and I understand the concern, anger and grief recent events have caused.’
Storey added: ‘I want to assure them that I will continue to fight for the funding needed to improve Cleveland Police’s ability to prevent crime, bring offenders to justice and keep our communities safe.’
Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off at the Riverside will be preceded by the Middlesbrough FC A66 tribute, with supporters invited to take part before the first whistle.