A Northumbria Police officer has been dismissed after throwing punches at a grandfather and pushing his own wife in the face following a road collision.

PC Jonathan Pattison attended the scene after another vehicle collided with the rear of a car being driven by his wife on June 3, 2025.

The other driver had his eight-year-old grandson with him at the time.

A police misconduct hearing was told Pattison, who had completed 24 years of service, arrived at the scene and reportedly said: “You can’t have anything nice these days, look at the state of my car.”

When his wife attempted to speak to him, Pattison pushed her out of the way before attempting to assault the other driver.

Footage recorded by a member of the public showed Pattison throwing punches at the man. It also captured him using force to push his wife away as she attempted to de-escalate the confrontation.

The hearing was told that the driver did not retaliate and instead tried to calm the situation, saying: “Pack it in, the grandbairn is there.”

Pattison was arrested and taken into police custody, where he admitted that he had been drinking wine.

On March 12, 2026, he was convicted at York Magistrates’ Court of assaulting the driver. He was ordered to pay a £1,200 fine and £500 in compensation.

Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine found that Pattison had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Authority, Respect and Courtesy, as well as Discreditable Conduct.

She concluded that the only appropriate sanction was dismissal without notice, bringing Pattison’s 24-year policing career to an end.

South Yorkshire Police has launched a murder investigation following the discovery in the Wincobank area of the city on Sunday morning.

Officers received a report shortly before 6am on Sunday, 30 August, raising concerns for the safety of a newborn baby.

As part of enquiries, officers searched a property on Holywell Heights, where the baby girl was found.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “As part of our enquiries into this report, officers searched a property on Holywell Heights where the newborn baby was located.

“Sadly despite the best efforts of officers and paramedics, the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Seven arrested as murder investigation launched

South Yorkshire Police has confirmed that seven people have since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

All seven remain in police custody while detectives continue their investigation. Police are also working to establish the ages of some of those arrested.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Knight said: “We are aware that news of this will be deeply concerning and I want to reassure our local communities that we have a dedicated team of detectives and officers hard at work to ensure justice is secured for the baby girl at the heart of this investigation.

“As part of our investigation, seven people have been arrested on suspicion of murder. All of them remain in police custody at this time. We are working to determine the ages of some of those arrested.

“Our investigation is in its early stages, and we would like to remind people to avoid speculating about this incident.”

Police appeal for information

Detectives are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the newborn baby’s death and are asking anyone who may have information that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Police have stressed that the investigation remains at an early stage and have urged members of the public not to speculate about what happened while enquiries continue.

Anyone with information relating to the incident should contact South Yorkshire Police.

Police have made two arrests following separate incidents in Hartlepool involving large groups gathering outside properties, during which a man was allegedly assaulted and racially abused and another property had its windows smashed while children were inside.

Cleveland Police confirmed officers were called to a property in the Hartlepool area on Friday, 28 August, where a group of people had gathered claiming to be carrying out a peaceful protest.

During the first incident, a 29-year-old man was assaulted and racially abused and had a bag stolen from him, according to police.

He was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, where he remained overnight receiving treatment.

A 54-year-old Hartlepool man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.

Second property targeted

Police were called to a second address in Hartlepool at around 12:30 pm on Saturday, 29 August, following reports of another gathering from the group protesting against a registered sex offender who was in the same address as children.

An eyewitness told Police Hour:

The man targeted by the protest, who is originally from Norton, was jailed for three years in 2009 after being convicted of attempting to arrange the commission of a sexual offence against a girl under 13.

“He was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life, permanently disqualified from working with children and prohibited from having contact with children for five years.”

The eyewitness went on to say:

“Those attending the protest were required by police to provide their names and addresses under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002.”

According to Cleveland Police, windows at the property were smashed with rocks and bricks while children were present inside the address.

A 46-year-old woman has since been arrested on suspicion of obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of their duty and has been taken into police custody.

Police remain in the area and say officers will maintain a highly visible presence to provide reassurance to the local community over the coming days. Police warn violence will not be tolerated

Superintendent Paul Richardson, from Cleveland Police has said

“Whilst police will facilitate a peaceful and lawful protest, any escalation of violence or criminality will be dealt with appropriately and robustly.

“We will not tolerate incidents such as these, where groups of people target individuals and cause people harm or destroy property.

“Anyone who carries out this type of mindless behaviour can expect to be arrested and put before the courts.”

Hartlepool group holds a series of protests across the town

The local Hartlepool group has been organising what it describes as “peaceful protests” at addresses across the town for several weeks.

These have focused on properties reportedly connected to people the group identifies as suspected or convicted sex offenders.

Appeal for information

Anyone with concerns or information about the incidents is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the devastating events of Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning has widened significantly, with detectives examining criminal activity alleged to have taken place before the fatal crash.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have now been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences.

The suspected offences range from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group, demonstrating the scale and seriousness of the investigation now underway.

Seven people lost their lives in the collision, including serving Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

The deaths of the two officers have sent shockwaves through Cleveland Police, the wider policing family and communities across the area.

For those of us with strong connections to Hartlepool and Cleveland, this is not simply another national news story. It is a tragedy that has happened within our own community and one whose impact is likely to be felt for a very long time.

Police address TikTok claims

Cleveland Police has also addressed speculation surrounding the events leading up to the collision.

At this stage of the investigation, police say there is no evidence to indicate that the activities taking place on Friday night and Saturday morning were being filmed for the purposes of TikTok.

As detectives continue to establish precisely what happened, it is particularly important that speculation circulating online is not presented as established fact.

The investigation remains fast-moving, and further evidence may emerge as officers continue their enquiries.

‘Significant links to serious and organised criminal activity’

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, who is responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, described the inquiry as both complex and extensive.

He said:

“This has been a fast moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.

“The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect.

“We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.

“Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.”

The comments make clear that the police response will extend considerably beyond the immediate aftermath of the collision.

The 12 arrests represent part of what Cleveland Police says will be a continuing operation against those suspected of involvement in serious and organised crime.

Officers continue working through unimaginable loss

Behind the scale of the criminal investigation is also a police force dealing with the deaths of two of its own.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland.

ACC Fox paid tribute to the officers and staff who have continued working despite the profound impact of the tragedy.

He said:

“Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy.

“Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the utmost professionalism.”

He also thanked the public and the wider policing community for the support shown to the force.

“I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.”

An investigation that is far from over

Twelve arrests mark a significant development, but this investigation is clearly far from concluded.

The events preceding the collision, the alleged criminal activity involved and the actions of those suspected of participating in it will now form part of an extensive police investigation.

It is equally important to remember that an arrest does not amount to a finding of guilt. Those arrested are suspected of offences, and the investigation and any subsequent criminal proceedings must be allowed to take their course.

What is beyond dispute is the devastating human cost of what happened.

Seven people did not return home.

Among them were PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough — two police officers who went to work to serve their communities and never came home.

As Cleveland Police continues its investigation into the events surrounding that night, our thoughts remain with their families, friends, colleagues and everyone affected by this tragedy.

The impact on Cleveland — and particularly on the policing family — will not disappear when the headlines move on.

We will continue to report significant, verified developments as this investigation progresses.

Two Cleveland Police officers who left their families at home to begin a night shift protecting their communities were tragically killed in a collision on the A66 in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It has taken us some time at Police Hour to find the words to write this article.

We have covered the deaths of police officers for many years, and through Police Hour we have helped raise more than £1 million for the families of fallen officers.

But this one has been particularly difficult.

Hartlepool is our home town. PC Matthew Blades was one of our own, a familiar and much-loved member of the local community whose loss is being felt throughout Hartlepool, including within its football and rugby communities.

This tragedy has hit our community hard.

Two officers who went to work and never came home

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were serving officers with Cleveland Police.

At approximately 3.39am on Saturday 22 August 2026, the officers were travelling in a marked Cleveland Police Armed Response Vehicle on the A66 at South Bank, Teesside.

Cleveland Police confirmed that a Volkswagen Passat carrying five men was travelling in the wrong direction along the A66 when it collided with the police vehicle, which was travelling in the correct direction.

PC Blades and PC Clough tragically died at the scene. The five men travelling in the other car also died.

Police Hour will not be naming the five men in this article.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision following a mandatory referral. Cleveland Police has urged people not to speculate while that investigation continues.

PC Matthew Blades

PC Matthew Blades was much more than the uniform he wore.

He was a husband, a father of two young boys, a son, a brother, a friend and an active member of the Hartlepool community.

His loss is being felt deeply throughout the town, including within its football and rugby communities.

For those of us who call Hartlepool home, this is not simply a national policing story.

One of our community went to work that night to protect others and never returned to his family.

PC Tom Clough

Alongside Matthew was PC Tom Clough.

Tom was a dedicated firearms officer who had committed himself to protecting the public.

Behind the words “police officer” was a person with a family, friends and colleagues who expected him to finish his shift and return home.

He never got that opportunity.

They went to work to protect us

Police officers do something most of us rarely have to contemplate.

They leave their families, walk through the door and begin a shift without knowing what they will face before they return.

On Saturday morning, two families received the news every police family fears.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough had gone to work to protect the public.

They never made it home.

There are children who now face a future without their dad. Partners have lost the person they expected to spend their lives alongside. Parents, siblings, friends and colleagues have lost people who simply cannot be replaced.

No fundraiser can change that.

No amount of money will bring Matthew or Tom home, and it cannot begin to compensate their families for what has been taken from them.

But it can perhaps make what comes next a little gentler.

Please support their families

A GoFundMe appeal has been established to support the families of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Police Hour has helped raise more than £1 million for the families of fallen police officers over the years.

Ordinarily, following a tragedy of this magnitude, we would consider launching our own appeal.

On this occasion, we won’t.

There is already a fundraiser supporting the officers’ families and, rather than establish another appeal and divide the incredible generosity of the policing community and wider public, we want to put our support behind the existing fundraiser.

Donate to the GoFundMe appeal:
https://gofund.me/ab069fd30

Please stand behind their families

If you can afford to donate, please do.

It won’t bring these two officers home.

It won’t take away the grief.

It won’t make a child understand why their dad isn’t walking back through their front door.

But perhaps it can remove one financial worry.

Perhaps it can give their families the time and space they need to grieve.

And perhaps, collectively, we can make the road ahead just a tiny bit gentler for the people Matthew and Tom loved most.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough went to work that night to protect us.

Now it is our turn to stand behind the families they leave behind.

Rest in peace, Matthew and Tom.

We will remember you.

Harrison Simpson was ordered to serve a minimum term of 27 years and 231 days. Isabelle’s mother, Alexandra Walker, received a minimum term of 21 years and 48 days.

Emergency services attended a property on Hartington Close in Thornaby on 13 September 2025 after concerns were raised about a young child’s welfare.

Isabelle was taken to hospital but tragically died shortly afterwards from a catastrophic head injury.

During the weeks preceding her death, she suffered fractures to 21 bones and extensive bruising across her body.

Walker, 26, and her 22-year-old boyfriend Simpson were arrested in connection with Isabelle’s death because of the severity of her injuries.

Both were subsequently charged with several offences, which they denied.

Following a five-week trial at Teesside Crown Court, Simpson was found guilty of murder, sexual assault by penetration and child cruelty. Walker was convicted of murder and child cruelty.

The jury returned its verdicts on Tuesday 28 July.

Sentencing the pair at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday 30 July, the judge commended Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chatterton and his investigation team, together with the Family Liaison Officers involved in the case

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After a period of hibernation, Police Hour is returning.

At our height, Police Hour attracted up to one million website visitors a day. Readers came to us for fast, independent coverage of crime, policing and the issues affecting communities across the United Kingdom.

Now, the need for that coverage is greater than ever.

Policing depends on public trust. Every day, dedicated officers and staff serve their communities with courage, professionalism and integrity—often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Their work deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

But supporting the police must never mean ignoring wrongdoing within policing.

A growing number of serious misconduct cases have damaged public confidence and let down the overwhelming majority of officers who joined the service for the right reasons. Those “bad apples” do not represent British policing, but their actions have consequences for every honest officer and every community the police serve.

That is why Police Hour is coming back.

We will report independently, accurately and without fear or favour. We will celebrate exceptional police work, courageous officers and successful investigations. We will also ask difficult questions, investigate failures and shine a light on misconduct, poor leadership and injustice wherever we find them.

Police Hour will not be anti-police or blindly pro-police. We will be pro-truth, pro-accountability and pro-public interest.

Our renewed coverage will include:

• Breaking crime and policing news

• Major investigations, arrests and court cases

• Police misconduct and accountability

• Exceptional acts of courage and public service

• The pressures facing frontline officers

• Crime prevention and public-safety information

• Independent analysis of policing policy and leadership

This relaunch is more than the return of a news website. It is the return of an independent voice committed to better policing, safer communities and honest reporting.

To the loyal readers who supported Police Hour before: thank you. To those discovering us for the first time: welcome.

Police Hour is back—and once again, we will report the good, expose the bad and tell the stories that matter.

Independent. Accountable. Unafraid.

Finley Messenger (18) had been out drinking in Newcastle before being arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and taken into custody.

While in a cell, magistrates heard he was “kicking, screaming and acting like a toddler” before deliberately spitting into an officer’s eyes and mouth.

CCTV shown in court captured the officer striking him to the head seconds later, described as “swift summary justice”.

Messenger was later taken to hospital with suspected concussion, though no serious injury was found.

The case was heard at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted assaulting an emergency worker.

He was fined £233 and ordered to pay costs and compensation.

Magistrates were told the incident began as “low-level” but escalated quickly due to his behaviour in custody.

An inquest has confirmed that court bailiff Jeff Blair, 55, died as a result of stab wounds following an incident while carrying out his duties in Shildon, County Durham.

The brief hearing at Crook Coroners Court formally established the cause of death. The full inquest has now been suspended pending the outcome of ongoing criminal proceedings.

Mr Blair, a former Durham Constabulary officer with 22 years of service, was working as a court bailiff at the time. He attended an address on Dent Street alongside a locksmith, where a confrontation took place and he sustained serious injuries. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital but sadly later died.

Robert Davies, 49, has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon, and affray. He remains in custody ahead of further court proceedings.

Police have maintained a presence in the area as investigations continue. Detective Chief Inspector Sharon Alderson described the incident as deeply upsetting and said it has had a significant impact on the local community.

Mr Blair’s family have spoken of their devastation, describing him as a much-loved son, father, partner and friend whose humour and warmth will be greatly missed.

Colleagues within the courts service, along with former policing associates, have paid tribute to him, remembering him as a gentleman and a genuinely kind individual.

The inquest will resume once criminal proceedings have concluded, at which stage the coroner will consider whether any wider factors contributed to his death and whether recommendations are required to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Emergency services, including armed officers, were called to Hardale Grove in Dormanstown, Redcar, shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday amid concerns for a child. Despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police believe the death was caused by a dog bite. One dog was destroyed at the scene, while a second dog from the property has been taken into police care.

The North East Ambulance Service attended with three crews, and one person was taken to hospital for further treatment.

District Commander Emily Harrison described the incident as deeply distressing, stating that thoughts are with the child’s family at this incredibly difficult time.

A scene remains in place as investigations continue. Anyone with information or concerns is urged to speak with officers.

British police forces are preparing to trial a cutting-edge satellite communications system using Elon Musk’s Starlink network to ensure officers remain connected even in areas where traditional mobile networks fail, according to government and industry sources.

Under the plans, satellite connectivity would supplement existing emergency communications infrastructure to provide private, secure links capable of carrying voice, data, and other mission-critical information, particularly in rural or network-congested areas where mobile coverage is currently unreliable or nonexistent.

The move comes as the long-planned Emergency Services Network (ESN) continues its phased rollout. The ESN is intended to replace the ageing Airwave network with a modern 4G/5G-based system for police, fire, and ambulance services, offering greater capacity and interoperability. However, coverage gaps persist in some locations, highlighting the need for additional solutions to deliver seamless connectivity nationwide.

Starlink’s constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites offers a potential way to eliminate so-called “dead zones,” with signals independent of terrestrial mobile masts and fibre infrastructure. In field trials overseas, satellite systems have already demonstrated their ability to maintain communications when ground-based networks are unavailable.

Home Office and police technology teams are exploring how the Starlink-enabled solution could integrate with existing systems to support frontline officers and control rooms, niche deployments such as mobile command units, and real-time situational awareness tools. Officials say the initiative could bolster resilience and public safety by ensuring uninterrupted communications during major incidents or in remote areas.

A final decision on full deployment and funding is expected after pilot programmes have been evaluated later this year.

A member of the public who entered the water to try to rescue them has been named as 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe. He was pulled from the sea unconscious and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later on Friday, the body of Ms Keeling was recovered from the water.

Emergency services continue to search for her daughter Grace, who remains missing.

It is deeply worrying that dangerous offenders, including killers, are being held in an open, low-security prison like HMP Leyhill. These are people who should be in secure conditions, yet the system has allowed them the freedom to walk away.

Police are urgently trying to find two men who absconded from HMP Leyhill between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday, 1 January. They are Matthew Armstrong, who has links to Warwickshire, and Daniel Washbourne, who has connections to Herefordshire. A third man suspected of leaving at the same time has already been arrested in Bristol.

This situation raises serious

questions about public safety and how offenders like this are being managed. The police are leading on the search and have released CCTV images showing what the men were wearing. National alerts have gone out and intensive work is under way to track them, but so far checks outside the area have not found them.

Please do not approach them. If you see either of these men, call 999 immediately quoting reference 5226000700.

People deserve to feel safe. Communities should not be put at risk like this.