Cleveland Police Awaits £2 Million Payment Two Months Post-A66 Crash Pledge

Cleveland Police is still awaiting a promised £2 million payment to cover costs incurred from a significant incident on the A66 dual carriageway. Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey confirmed the force has not received the funds, despite the commitment being made almost two months prior.

The incident, which led to widespread disruption and a substantial operational response, involved a lorry shedding its load of chemicals. The subsequent clean-up and traffic management required a considerable deployment of police resources, incurring significant expenses.

Mr Storey stated that the delay in reimbursement places an undue financial burden on the force's already stretched budget. He emphasised the necessity of receiving the allocated funds promptly to ensure effective policing operations can continue without compromise.

While the source of the payment and the specific responsible authority were not detailed, the Commissioner's statement highlights persistent issues regarding the timely provision of financial support for critical emergency responses.