Young people ‘baiting police’ with dangerous driving – Police Federation

A police officer leaves flowers at the Cleveland Police HQ Memorial Garden in Middlesbrough (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA Wire Press Association Reporters 2 minutes ago Young people are “baiting police officers” with dangerous driving, the Police Federation of England and Wales said in the wake of the collision in which seven people, including two police officers, were killed.

It comes after police said five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car on a dual carriageway may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.

Cleveland Police said 12 other people have been arrested over alleged criminality leading up to the collision in Teesside.

These included four people arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and four on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

Four of the suspects are also accused of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply and one of the four has been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and possession of criminal property.

Paul Williams, acting deputy national chairman for the Police Federation of England and Wales, told BBC Breakfast: “Every day we can identify now numerous examples of young people sensationalising dangerous driving. Not just dangerous driving, but baiting police officers who are out there to protect the public.

“They shouldn’t have to be going out and worrying about whether they’re going to return home from their shift or not. But on top of that, wondering if they’re going to be plastered all over social media.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable and social media platforms need to take some action.”

Four of the five young men in the car had previous criminal convictions, and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.

Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, which had been pursued by police, was driven the wrong way along a dual carriageway near Middlesbrough and hit their marked armed response vehicle.

The five people travelling in the Volkswagen, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak, were pronounced dead at the scene at South Bank , early on Saturday.

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