Residents need to feel safe after deadly crash and fire near Middlesbrough, council leader says
Local government leaders and MPs in Middlesbrough are calling for increased support and safety measures following a series of tragic deaths, including a car crash and a house fire. The community is expressing concerns about being 'left behind' and feeling unsafe in their homes.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the intersection of public safety, social inequality, and the need for adequate government resources in struggling communities.
Image source, Supplied Image caption, The family of Natalie McDonald and her niece Valentina Foster have paid tribute to them
People living in a town where nine people have been killed in a crash and fire in the past week deserve to "feel safe in their own homes", a council leader has said.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader Alec Brown's comments come after seven people, including two police officers, died in a car crash at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, on Saturday and a 34-year-old woman and seven-year-old girl died in a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday.
Brown told Radio 4's Today programme he had called an "urgent meeting" on Friday among councillors, police and social housing providers.
Teesside MPs also called for the government to provide more support for police and firefighters in the area.
Police have made several arrests in connection with the recent deaths.
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