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Fifty people arrested and shotguns seized in gang crackdown triggered by A66 crash that killed two officers

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, whose deaths in the A66 crash prompted Cleveland Police to charge 15 people and seize three shotguns, two handguns and £60,000 of drugs.
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, whose deaths in the A66 crash prompted Cleveland Police to charge 15 people and seize three shotguns, two handguns and £60,000 of drugs.

Cleveland Police have arrested 50 people across organised crime networks in the two months since a wrong-way A66 crash killed PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, along with five young men in a VW Passat. The operation has netted three shotguns, two handguns, machetes, ammunition, £60,000 worth of class A and B drugs and more than £30,000 in cash.

Ten of the 50 arrests are linked to a red Volvo XC60 that rammed family homes of gang members, which detectives believe sparked the fatal chase.

The Volvo targeted the home of Cole Worthy's father and the homes of fellow gang member Theo Rae's mother and grandmother before the fatal pursuit began.

Fifteen people have now been charged, including for firearms offences and intent to supply cocaine and crack cocaine, with safeguarding interventions made for three children.

MoreBBC News - EnglandFifty arrests in organised crime probe after A66 fatal crashRichmondshire TodayFourth arrest in investigation into death of woman on A1(M) - Richmondshire TodayYorkshire PostWoman, 52, arrested in murder investigation following fatal A1(M) crash - Yorkshire PostHarrogate InformerWoman Arrested Following Fatal A1 Collision Near BartonGazetteherald.co.ukThird person arrested after woman 'murdered' in North Yorkshire A1(M) crash - Gazetteherald.co.ukDaily Mail NewsPolice have now arrested 50 people in crackdown on gang violence in Middlesbrough following A66 crash - seizing three shotguns, two handguns and large sums of drugs and cash
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