Football fans pay tribute to crash death officers at Middlesbrough match
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
Two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, tragically lost their lives in a head-on collision on Teesside, near Middlesbrough, on 22 August. The accident also claimed the lives of five individuals in another vehicle. In remembrance, players from Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion observed a minute's silence before their Championship match at the Riverside Stadium, with pictures of the deceased officers displayed on a screen.
Hartlepool United paid tribute to the officers by holding a two-minute silence before their home National League game against Eastleigh on Friday evening. Middlesbrough FC expressed their appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the officers and the Cleveland Police force in protecting and supporting the local community. The club emphasized the vital role played by police officers and staff, especially under challenging circumstances.
Arrests related to the investigation into the crash have reached 24, with 17 people arrested earlier this week. The occupants of the other vehicle, a Passat, including Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, Makai Saddington, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, also perished in the incident.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke spoke about the challenges faced by the Cleveland Police force, which has experienced a significant reduction in funding. He highlighted that the force has seen a 10% reduction in police officers' full-time equivalent (FTE) compared to other areas that have witnessed an increase of over 20%. Cooke called for police funding to be allocated based on the actual needs rather than solely relying on population sizes.
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