Community group pleads against graffiti tributes for A66 crash victims
Fundraisers for fallen officers surpass £1M
A local community group has appealed to the public not to deface buildings with graffiti as tributes to the young men who died in the recent A66 crash near Middlesbrough.
The plea comes as fundraisers for the two police officers killed in the collision exceed £1 million.
Cleveland Police continues to investigate the crash which claimed the lives of seven individuals, including 17 arrests in connection with the incident.
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives alongside five young men from the Volkswagen Passat involved.
The collision occurred early Saturday morning following a police pursuit that was abandoned when the Passat drove the wrong way down the dual-carriageway.
Tees Valley Active's Facebook post addressed community members, expressing understanding for the desire to pay respects but requesting alternative ways to show support without causing damage.
The statement highlighted that damaging local facilities impacts the community's resources and asked for assistance in removing the graffiti.
Efforts to raise funds for the officers' families have been remarkably successful, with a GoFundMe page organised by the Cleveland Police Federation reaching over £960,000 and another page for the officers reaching over £45,000.
Inquests for Pc Blades and Pc Clough are set for Thursday morning, while hearings for the young men in the Passat will take place in the afternoon at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Cleveland Police has previously linked the young men in the Passat to “serious and organised criminal activity,” highlighting prior criminal convictions and connections to a separate car ramming properties.
Police reported engagement with dangerous driving activities from two vehicles, including the Passat and a Volvo XC60, both using cloned number plates but detected through automated recognition technology.
Further details emerged regarding PC Clough, described by family as “our hero” and praised by PC Blades’ wife for his devotion to their family.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed concerns over the glorification of dangerous driving, acknowledging the need for tech companies and everyone involved to contribute to stopping this trend.
As investigations continue, the community and officials remain focused on resolving the surrounding issues posed by the tragic event.