Nine men and three women have been arrested following the fatal crash on the A66 in Teesside at the weekend, which killed seven people, including PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
On the morning of Saturday, August 22, Cleveland Police received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo XC60.
Cloned plates and arrests
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said this afternoon (Monday, August 24) that the vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection, but were picked up by the force's automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.
Throughout the course of the weekend, Cleveland Police, supported by officers and staff from Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire Police, have worked to establish the circumstances which led to the fatal crash.
Investigation and charges
Those enquiries have resulted in the arrests of 12 people across Teesside. Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences, ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
A police spokesperson added that, at this time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok. Four of the occupants of the Passat had previous police convictions.
Police response
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: "This has been a fast moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.
"The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect.
"We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.
"Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.
"Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy.
"Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the utmost professionalism.
"I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family."
