More than 200 extra police sent to Middlesborough to Support Cleveland Police after string of violent gang-related crimes including fatal fire murders after two officers killed in head-on crash

More than 200 extra police officers are being sent to support Cleveland Police following a series of violent gang-related crimes, including the head-on crash that killed two police officers and five young men in the other car in the early hours of Saturday.

PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died after a Volkswagen Passat, that had been pursued by other police officers, hit their marked armed response vehicle on the A66 in Teesside.

Five young males aged from 17 to 23, who were in the Volkswagen, were also tragically killed.

Four of the occupants of the Passat had previous convictions.

Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak have been named by police as among the deceased.

Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said more than 200 extra police officers have been, or will be, deployed from around the country to support Cleveland Police.

He posted online: “Thank you so much to the superintendent from Cleveland Police that has just taken their time to give updates to myself, Anna Turley (MP for Redcar), South Bank and Grangetown Ward councillors.

“They are working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents. Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response.

“I will be sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resource. The police really are doing an amazing job.

“If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however, the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action."

On Monday Cleveland Police revealed it had launched a wide-scale investigation into criminality which took place prior to the fatal crash.

On the morning of Saturday 22 August, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.

The first vehicle, which is believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed to be ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area, including one linked to the father of one of the dead teens, it is understood.

The second vehicle, the Volkswagen Passat involved in the crash, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60.

Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the Force’s automated number plate recognition technology.

The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.

Throughout the course of the weekend Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, worked to establish the circumstances which led to the fatal collision.

Those enquires resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61 were arrested on suspicion of several offences including:

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail

A 19-year-old man, from Redcar, has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and has been released on conditional bail. He has however been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday 25 August)

A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released on conditional bail

A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage and has been released on conditional bail. He has been remanded on recall to prison

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order and is in police custody

A 61-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail

A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail

A 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on unconditional bail

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail

A 26-year-old man, of Micklow Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property. He has been remanded in custody until he appears at Teesside Crown Court on Monday 21 September.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has been released on conditional bail.

The force said at the current time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok, as had been reported.

Overnight on Monday officers from across the force continued to disrupt those suspected of being involved in serious and organised crime. This resulted in five further arrests, taking the total to 17.

They include:

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of participate in an organised crime group

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participate in an organised crime group

A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of participate in an organised crime group

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill

The activity was led by Cleveland Police and supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said:

"This has been a fast moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.

“The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect.

"We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.

“Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.’

“Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy.

“Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism.

“I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.”

In another incident, at around 3:50pm on Stockton High Street on Tuesday 25 August 2026, a man received serious injuries to his arm.

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault or anyone with information to come forward by calling 101 and quoting reference SE26170454.

Police since confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched following a house fire in the Grangetown area in the early hours of this Wednesday morning, 26th August 2026.

Officers were called to a house on Birchington Avenue at 5:23am, where sadly two people have been confirmed dead. The scene has yet to be fully examined.

The families of those people have been informed, and our thoughts are with them and the families of everyone involved in this incident at this extremely difficult time.

A woman, 48, remains in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in a critical condition, and a further three people have suffered non-life-threatening injuries who are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Emily Harrison, said: “This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in the deaths of a number of people this morning, and their families are being supported by specially trained officers.

“We are working to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time.

“We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident.

“We encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information regarding the incident in the early hours of this morning, to approach one of our officers or to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Anyone who may have information, or any concerns, is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 170941.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

Two arrests have now been made in connection with a murder investigation.

Two men aged 23 and 31 have now been arrested on suspicion of murder and they remain in police custody at this time.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Shortly after half past midnight today, Thursday 27th August, police received a number of calls reporting a vehicle had crashed into a wall at an address on Steele Crescent in South Bank.

Ms Harrison said: “The property was empty at the time and we have not currently received any reports of any injuries.

"Officers are conducting enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident. Our investigation is in its early stages and it has not yet been confirmed whether this incident is linked to wider organised crime.

“We will continue to have a pro-active police presence in the area and work to identify those responsible.

“We would also appeal for anyone with information or any relevant doorbell, dash cam or private CCTV footage to contact Cleveland Police via the website or by phoning 101. Please quote ref 171649.”

A 39-year-old man is also receiving treatment following an assault involving a bladed weapon in an address on Sedgemoor Road in Eston around midday today.

No arrests have been made at this time, however, enquiries are ongoing into the incident.

Police have not officially linked any of the incidents.

Today, inquests into the deaths of the two officers and five other people were opened at Teesside Coroner's Court .

The court heard "all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene".

Coroner Paul Appleton said PC Blades was identified by his wife, and PC Clough by his partner.

He gave the provisional cause of death as head and neck injuries for PC Blades, and neck injuries for PC Clough.

The coroner later said that all the young men were identified by fingerprint analysis.

The causes of death were said to be neck injuries for Matusiak, head and torso injuries for Cahill, head injuries for Saddington and Rae, and head and chest injuries for Worthy.

A fundraiser for the two police officers has reached more than £1m.