Cleveland Police Await £2m Road Crash Funding Two Months After Government Pledge
Cleveland Police is still awaiting £2m in government funding promised after a fatal A66 road collision, according to Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey. The allocation, intended for a new dedicated road policing unit, was announced almost two months prior, but the funds have not yet materialised.
Mr Storey expressed concern over the delay, highlighting the critical need for the resources to enhance road safety and manage a significant backlog of outstanding road traffic investigations. He stated that the force, which serves areas including Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton, and Redcar and Cleveland, currently faces substantial pressures without the committed funding.
The Department for Transport confirmed the funding commitment in May, specifying its purpose for establishing a new road policing team within Cleveland Police. However, a spokesperson indicated that the formal grant agreement was still in preparation, with details to be finalised in the "coming weeks."
The original commitment followed a serious crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough in March, which resulted in two fatalities and three serious injuries. This incident underscored existing deficiencies in road policing capacity within the region, prompting the government's pledge to augment local law enforcement capabilities.
