Police in Middlesbrough 'had five pleas for help ignored by government' before deadly gang violence that precipitated A66 crash

Police in Middlesbrough had five pleas for help ignored by the government before an outbreak of gang violence which led to the fatal A66 crash. Matt Storey, Cleveland's police and crime commissioner, had written at least seven letters to the government since July 2024 warning that officers were 'woefully underfunded' and struggling to protect the public. Only two received a response, his office said, while more requests for additional support were ignored. The most recent warning, sent to Andy Burnham last month, said shrinking recruitment was driving 'concern about whether help will be there when it is needed most'.Cleveland police was forced to call in 200 officers from nearby regions last week after the crash - which killed two officers and five youths - ignited chaos in the south of Middlesbrough. PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, died alongside five occupants of a VW Passat that was travelling on the wrong side of a dual carriageway in the early hours of Saturday, August 22. Theo Rae, 17, Cole Worthy, 17, Michael Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18, were named as the five young men. Four of the five youths had previous criminal convictions, and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning. Matt Storey, Cleveland's police and crime commissioner, had written at least seven letters to the government since July 2024 warning that officers were 'woefully underfunded'. Only two received a response, his office said PC Matthew Blades, 37, was killed when his police vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough PC Tom Clough, 38, also died in the crash, which occurred around 10 seconds after a police pursuit of the Volkswagen was called off Middlesbrough and County Durham have been gripped by a wave of violence since their deaths, which has left some residents too intimidated to leave their homes. The Home Office said the government is 'grateful to Cleveland police, who have delivered a robust response in very difficult circumstances'. It added: 'We have been in regular contact with the force and local leaders, ensuring they have the support they need and engaging on their financial concerns. 'The force will receive up to £197.8 million in funding in the 2026/2027 financial year - a 3.7 per cent uplift in cash. Alongside this, we are reviewing the funding formula as part of our wider programme to reform policing, working with forces to build consensus around a future model.' Police are investigating whether the spate of violence, including the fatal A66 crash, is linked to organised crime. Middlesbrough, which has the highest crime rate in England bar central London, was rocked again when a seven-year-old girl, Valentina Foster, and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, 34, died in a house fire. Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. Although police did not link the blaze to the A66 crash, they did not rule out a connection to wider organised crime. Makai Saddington, one of the five killed in the Volkswagen, posted videos on TikTok of him being chased by police and was awaiting trial for racially abusing and assaulting officers Jakub Matusiak, another occupant of the car which hit the officers, also posted videos of himself driving recklessly Close friends Theo Rae (left) and Cole Robert Worthy both died in the crash on Saturday Michael Robert Cahill was one of the five in the VW PassatA home in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough was rammed by a car in the early hours of Thursday Barely 24 hours later, armed police were responding to another serious incident in Middlesbrough, with claims of a machete attack that left a man with stab wounds.Seven more men were later held as part of a broader operation to disrupt organised crime, taking the total number of arrests to 24.In a statement, Mr Storey said previously: 'I have always been very vocal that Cleveland Police does a brilliant job of handling the level of demand it faces with the resources at its disposal. Sadly, the frequency and severity of recent incidents has now brought Cleveland to national attention.'Today, I met with the policing minister to once again raise my serious concerns about the outdated and ineffective funding system that disadvantages this force. 'I have reiterated my request for a better long-term funding deal to enhance Cleveland's response to serious and organised crime.'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. '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.'The Daily Mail has contacted the Home Office for comment. Previous convictions of the gang Cole WorthyUse threatening abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on October 27, 2024 and pleaded guiltyFailing to surrender to custody on May 14, 2025 and pleaded guiltyCommon assault of a police officer on April 27, 2025 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyUsing a vehicle without insurance on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without reasonable consideration on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving using a mobile phone on June 7, 2026 and pleaded guiltyJakub MatusiakUsing a vehicle without insurance on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyDriving without a licence on March 22, 2026 and pleaded guiltyMakai SaddingtonPossession of a controlled class C drug on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyPossession of a knife in a public place on May 31, 2025 and pleaded guiltyOctober 11, 2025 three offences for assaulting a police officer and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyRacially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress on June 9, 2026 and pleaded guiltyTheo Rae12 shoplifting offences between October 21, 2023 and May 4, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesThree thefts from motor vehicle offences between January 31, 2024 and September 25, 2024 and pleaded guilty to all offencesOne theft of vehicle on April 13, 2024 and pleaded guiltyPossession of cannabis on April 22, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking on May 16, 2024 and pleaded guiltyAggravated vehicle taking January 2, 2025 and pleaded guiltyConviction of an offence while a youth rehabilitation order is in force on February 26, 2025 and pleaded guiltyAssaulted a police officer on April 30, 2026 and pleaded guilty