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'I'd rather die than ring the police': Distrust and fear in Middlesbrough after A66 crash

'I'd rather die than ring the police': Distrust and fear in Middlesbrough after A66 crash

Summary

After a serious crash on the A66 in Middlesbrough, two police officers and five young men died. The area faces a big police operation focused on organised crime, but many local young people say they do not trust the police and disagree about the presence of gangs.

Key Facts

  • On August 22, a Volkswagen Passat driven the wrong way on the A66 hit a police vehicle head-on.
  • Police officers Matthew Blades (37) and Tom Clough (38) were killed in the crash.
  • All five people in the Passat, aged 17 to 23, died as well.
  • Four of the five young men had a total of 30 previous convictions for crimes like car theft, drug possession, and assaulting police officers.
  • More than 20 people in Middlesbrough and nearby areas have been arrested related to serious organised crime.
  • Two gangs are believed to be involved in recent violence in the area.
  • Young people in Grangetown say they do not trust police and dispute claims about gangs.
  • One family’s house was attacked on the night of the crash, increasing local fear and tension.
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