Victoria Fuller, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, has expressed pride in her officers while criticising the funding model that constrains the force, following a fatal collision on the A66 that claimed seven lives, including two police officers.
In her first detailed interview since the crash, Fuller told a national broadcaster that Cleveland Police was being undermined by inadequate resources despite facing crime levels comparable to those in major metropolitan areas. The force operates with less than half the number of officers deployed in similar-sized urban forces, she said, while contending with some of the highest crime rates recorded anywhere in England and Wales.
The collision occurred in the early hours of 22 August near Middlesbrough when a Volkswagen Passat, carrying five young men, travelled the wrong way down the dual carriageway and struck a marked police vehicle head-on. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), officers had been pursuing the Passat for just under seven minutes after it was linked to earlier alleged criminal activity. The pursuit was called off approximately 10 seconds before the crash when the vehicle entered the A66 against the flow of traffic.
The five occupants of the Passat—named by the IOPC as Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jacob Matusiak and Makai Saddington—were aged between 17 and 23. Four had previous convictions including assault on police officers and theft. The two officers who died, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, sustained head and neck injuries according to the inquest opening.
Fuller recalled being asleep when the duty commander informed her of the tragedy.
No matter how tragic and devastated you feel, we swing into action and we do what we need to do,she said.
What funding has the force received?
The government announced an immediate £2 million package to support Cleveland Police in the aftermath of the crash, alongside the deployment of 200 officers from other forces. Fuller acknowledged this support but stressed that sustained additional funding was essential.
I need that all the time,she told the broadcaster on Friday.
The force's Labour police and crime commissioner has previously stated that Cleveland Police requires an additional £20 million annually to expand officer numbers and intensify efforts against organised crime. In the 2026/2027 financial year, the force is set to receive up to £197.8 million in total funding, representing a 3.7 per cent cash increase. The Home Office has committed to a wider review of the police funding formula to ensure allocations are fair and responsive to local needs.
Why is Cleveland Police under such strain?
Cleveland Police covers a north-east England area encompassing Middlesbrough and Teesside and faces the highest recorded crime rate of any force in England and Wales, according to Office for National Statistics figures for the year to March. Simultaneously, the force has experienced the largest decrease in officer numbers since 2010 and is currently staffed at levels appropriate for a rural area rather than an urban region with significant crime challenges.
Fuller emphasised the complexity of policing the area, pointing to high rates of school absence, drug addiction and mental health issues. She rejected suggestions that gangs exercise control over parts of Middlesbrough but acknowledged that deprivation and unemployment fuel organised crime.
When young people have little aspiration or hope, who don't have confidence in the state, then unfortunately criminals exploit these people. They give confidence, and they give them hope, and they give them aspiration. And sadly what that means is young people doing things without thought of consequences.
Fuller stated that the force was performing to the best of its ability with available resources but required additional capacity.
We're doing the very, very best with what we've got - and we absolutely do need more.
What has happened since the crash?
The aftermath of the collision has placed significant additional demands on Cleveland Police. The force has responded to at least two incidents it believes were retaliatory in nature. Additionally, officers have had to manage a house fire in Middlesbrough that killed a woman and her niece and injured several others; police could not rule out a link to organised crime. A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the deaths of Natalie McDonald, 34, and Valentina Foster, seven.
The investigation into the crash itself has expanded into a broader operation targeting organised crime. Twelve people were arrested on suspicion of offences including involvement with organised crime in the immediate aftermath, with seven additional men arrested in a subsequent wave of arrests tied to the same operation.
Public response to the tragedy has been substantial. A fundraiser established for the two killed officers had surpassed £1 million by 26 August, reflecting widespread sympathy for the officers and their families.
What does Fuller want to see change?
Fuller expressed hope that police reform across the country would materialise, positioning Cleveland Police as a candidate to become one of the larger, strategic forces with the resources, flexibility and capability to respond effectively to emerging threats.
It absolutely needs to change,she said of the current funding and staffing situation.
She paid tribute to the two officers who died.
My heart goes out to their families - it really does. My grief can't compare to theirs, nor to the officers and staff who've worked closely with Matty and Tom for a long time.
Fuller called for additional funding to sustain operations while broader structural reform takes place.
In the meantime, we need additional funding... to take us to that point.
What happens next?
The IOPC investigation into the fatal collision remains ongoing, with investigators examining the circumstances of the pursuit and the decision to abandon it. The inquests into the seven deaths have been formally opened and will continue through the coroner's process.
The Home Office stated it remained in regular contact with Cleveland Police and local leaders to ensure they received necessary support and to address their financial concerns.
