More than £1 million raised for families of Cleveland officers killed in collision

2 September 2026

More than £1 million has been raised for the families of two Cleveland Police officers killed in a road collision, following an extraordinary public response to a fundraiser launched in their memory.

PC Matt Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died in the early hours of Saturday 22 August after a crash on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

The GoFundMe appeal, launched by Cleveland Police Federation to support the families of the two officers, has attracted thousands of donations in the days since their deaths.

Cleveland Police Federation branch secretary Carl Baker said the decision to launch the fundraiser followed a number of requests from members of the public asking how they could support the officers’ loved ones.

PC Matt Blades (left) and PC Tom Clough

He said: “PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public. The fact they did not return home to their families is both unfathomable and unthinkable.

“Lauren [branch chair] and I have been working 24/7 since we got that call that nobody wants to receive and will continue to do so to ensure our fallen colleagues and their families get everything they need.

“We have had a number of requests over how to donate or support their families. To facilitate this and to stop any rogue pages gaining traction or donations, we have taken the decision to launch a GoFundMe page.”

The fundraiser has received support from Northamptonshire Police Federation chair Sam Dobbs, who praised the public response and the commitment for proceeds to be split equally between the two families.

Condolences

Sam said: “Firstly, I want to send condolences on behalf of the branch to PC Blades’ and PC Clough’s families and friends, as well as our colleagues at Cleveland Police Federation and anyone else impacted by this awful news.

“Losing one of your own to an on-duty death is something we can truly empathise with. No matter if it’s been seen before in policing, it is always very painful, and you are left struggling to accept they lost their life simply trying to protect the public, like all do in this profession.

“But alongside the immense sadness, the response to this fundraiser has been incredibly powerful. To see more than £1 million raised by members of the public in such a short space of time is a remarkable demonstration of the respect and affection people have for Matt and Tom, and for their families.

“It has been gratifying and humbling to see people show such love and respect, especially at a time when we’d be forgiven for thinking the public doesn’t care enough about their police officers. Instead, they are going out of their way to show that they do.

Time of need

“Whether you share the page for others to see, or make a donation, I’m sure it will be greatly appreciated by the loved ones of the officers in their time of need.”

PC Blades and PC Clough were described as “dedicated and committed” professionals by Cleveland Police Federation, which has pledged to continue supporting their families following the tragedy.

Northamptonshire Police Federation has also expressed its deepest sympathies to the officers’ families, friends and colleagues.

The official GoFundMe fundraiser for PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough can be found here.

Cleveland Police Federation has confirmed this is the official fundraising platform, with donations intended to go directly to the families of the fallen officers.

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