UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Police pursuit under investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” by the deaths of PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, who were on duty when their marked Cleveland Police vehicle was struck by a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way. “My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland Police,” Burnham said, while thanking emergency services who responded to the crash and urging people to avoid speculation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the incident as “devastating”, saying police officers put their safety on the line every day to protect their communities. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen also paid tribute to the officers and other emergency workers who responded to the “horrible and tragic incident”.
Tributes are being paid to two police officers who were among seven people killed in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday. She extended her condolences to the victims’ families, emergency responders and the wider police family.