Middlesbrough on edge as A66 crash funerals and gang violence continue

A week of violence and fear in Middlesbrough has reached a new phase as funerals for the victims of the A66 crash take place amid school closures and a major police operation. The crash, which happened in the early hours of Saturday 22 August, killed seven people, including two police officers, when a car travelling the wrong way on the A66 collided with a police vehicle. The five young men in the car also died. Since then, a series of violent incidents have rocked the Teesside area, including car rammings, a stabbing, and an arson attack that killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt. Police have said they do not believe the arson attack is linked to the crash, but they have arrested 24 people as part of an investigation into organised crime.

More than 200 extra officers from neighbouring forces have been drafted in to help Cleveland Police, which is one of the smallest forces in the country. The Chief Constable, Victoria Fuller, has said her force is being let down by funding and resources, despite dealing with some of the highest crime rates in England. She told the BBC that Cleveland Police has the highest crime rate in the country and has seen the largest decrease in officers since 2010. The government has pledged an extra £2 million, but the police and crime commissioner, Matt Storey, called that sum "insulting" and said the force needs £26 million a year and around 500 more officers.

The unrest has also affected daily life. Four schools in Middlesbrough closed early on the day of the first funeral, for 23-year-old Jacob Matusiak, amid fears of disruption from large crowds, motorbikes and quad bikes. The Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott, wrote to the Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, calling the closures wrong, but Powell said headteachers had taken the decisions in consultation with local authorities and police. Similar closures were reported for a second funeral, and a vigil for another victim, Michael Cahill, ended with cars being torched in County Durham.

Residents have spoken of their fear and anger. One woman said she felt frightened to be on her own and never knew if she would be targeted. A man in Grangetown said the police were "full of s***" and that he would rather die than call them. Others described a town where drug dealing and gang violence are normalised, and where young people see little hope. The area includes some of the most deprived wards in England, with high levels of poverty and a healthy life expectancy of just 54 years, six years below the national average.

Political leaders have clashed over the causes and solutions. The local MP, Andy McDonald, described the events as terrorism, but the police and crime commissioner said that was "a bit strong" and that the real issue was organised crime and underfunding. On GB News, a Conservative MP pointed out that Middlesbrough has been a Labour constituency since 1974, arguing that Labour should take responsibility for the decline. Others, including Labour MPs, called for more investment in youth services and opportunities, noting that youth services have been cut by 70% over the past 12 years.

As the funerals continue and the police operation remains in place, the community is looking for a longer-term solution. The Chief Constable said her officers were "brave, committed, professional people" who continued to serve the public through their grief. But she acknowledged that the force was facing its darkest days. The immediate priority is to prevent further violence, but the deeper challenges of deprivation, drugs and trust in the police remain unresolved.