200 extra police brought in as Cleveland officers working 20-hour days

Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and MP Anna Turley said Cleveland Police’s resources are being bolstered as investigations into both tragedies continue.

Seven people, including two police officers, died in a crash on the A66 in South Bank on Saturday, and a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday, which is being treated as murder, claimed the lives of a woman seven-year-old girl and her aunt, 34.

In a statement after a meeting with a Cleveland Police superintendent, Mr Brown said: “They are working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents.

“Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are on route, from detectives to armed response.

“I will sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resource.

“The police really are doing an amazing job.

“If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action.

“Everyone is heartbroken over the loss of the aunt and little girl in Grangetown yesterday.

“People need to feel safe in their homes.”

Anna Turley, MP for Redcar and Cleveland, added: “I cannot thank our police enough. Officers are working incredibly long hours in extremely difficult circumstances to keep people safe, investigate what has happened and respond swiftly to incidents across our area.

“Right now, the priority is keeping people safe and making sure our police and other services have everything they need.

“I am working closely with Cleveland Police, Our Government, Redcar & Cleveland Council and our local partners to make sure there is a joined-up response across our communities.

“The additional officers coming into our area are an important and immediate response, but we will continue working together to make sure our police, public services and communities have exactly the support and resources they need, for as long as they are needed.

“I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done. There is a significant response underway, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock.

“People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “We can confirm that we have received mutual aid support through established arrangements from the other six Northern forces.

“This includes Northumbria, Durham, North Yorks, South Yorks, West Yorks and Humber and the National Crime Agency.”

Cleveland Police, who have made several arrests in connection with the recent deaths, are also investigating a crash which saw a vehicle hit the wall of a house in South Bank in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The property had been empty at the time and the force said it had “not yet been confirmed whether this incident is linked to wider organised crime”.

On Saturday, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died when a Volkswagen Passat, which was going the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank, hit their vehicle.

The five young men in the Volkswagen also died.

Police said 17 people, aged between 18 and 61, had been arrested across Teesside as part of an investigation into the lead up to the crash.

They have been held on a range of offences including possession of a firearm and being part of an organised crime group.

On Wednesday, Natalie McDonald, 34, died along with her seven-year-old niece Valentina Foster in the fire in Grangetown.

The fire also left a 48-year-old woman in a critical condition in hospital, while another three people suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remained in custody.

Cleveland Police said it was “keeping an open mind” about the fire and said it could not “rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time”.