Extra 200 Police to Aid Crash and Fire Investigation – BBC News
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Extra 200 Police Aid Crash and Fire Deaths Force
Image source: Supplied
Image caption: Natalie McDonald and her niece Valentina Foster died in a house fire on Wednesday.
By Jason Arunn Murugesu and Federica Bedendo, North East and Cumbria
Published 27 August 2026, 08:52 BST
Updated 8 minutes ago
An extra 200 police officers are being sent to support an investigation into a car crash and a house fire which left nine people dead, said Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Seven people, including two police officers, died in the crash at South Bank near Middlesbrough on Saturday, followed by a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday that claimed the lives of a 34-year-old woman and a seven-year-old girl.
Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, stated that armed officers, dog units, and "community bobbies" are among the additional personnel assisting local detectives.
Cleveland Police confirmed they are receiving support from neighboring forces, but the exact numbers are "changing all the time." They acknowledged contributions from the National Crime Agency as well as staff from Northumbria, Durham, Humberside, and North, South, and West Yorkshire forces.
Earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed that "all of the support will be provided to get to the heart of what has happened" over the past few days.
In an update on social media, Brown said:
"Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and on route, from detectives to armed response."
He further added:
"If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however, the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action."
Speaking to the BBC, Brown emphasized:
"Let’s not forget two police officers lost their lives in the line of duty… Police that were mourning the loss of their colleagues only three days beforehand were on site having to deal with some horrific sights…"
Earlier, Brown told Radio 4’s Today program that residents deserve "to feel safe in their own homes" and he understands people from the area might feel "left behind." He assured:
"I’m from an estate… It can be that uniform sort of consciousness that ‘we’re left behind’. But I can assure the people of Grangetown and South Bank they’re as important to me as people from any other estate in the borough."
Local Labour MPs Anna Turley, Luke Myer, Andy McDonald, Jonathan Brash, and Chris McDonald issued a joint statement welcoming the assistance of other police forces during the past week. However, they called for more long-term support to protect residents who have expressed "safety concerns" for "far too long."
Myer noted:
"We essentially have a metropolitan style of crime and also risk of fire but with a sort of rural-style funding."
