London police chase car crashes 'on the rise'

Police chase: On Tuesday a woman in her 20s died after a car crashed following a police pursuit
Peter Manning/Alamy Live News
Hannah Al-Othman11 August 2016
WEST END FINAL

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There has been a rise in the number of crashes involving response drivers from the Metropolitan Police, new figures suggest.

Information released by the capital's mayor Sadiq Khan in response to a written question by London Assembly member Steve O'Connell showed that there were 1,748 collisions involving trained response drivers in 2015/16, which was up from 1,649 the previous year and 1,492 in 2013/14.

There were also 498 crashes involving a police pursuit in 2015/16, up from 434 in the previous year, while there were 474 such collisions in 2013/14.

Mr O'Connell said: "The safety of both police officers and the general public has to be the highest priority during high-speed pursuits and responses.

"Clearly there is a need for police vehicles to drive at high speeds in emergency situations but it is a worrying trend to see an increase in the number of collisions and one that must be reversed.

"It is vitally important that police pursuits are conducted as safely as possible. I'll be asking the Mayor to look closely at this increase and to assess ways in which the risks can be reduced for all involved."

On Tuesday a woman in her 20s died after a car crash following a police pursuit by officers who were investigating reports of a drone being flown near Wandsworth prison.

The driver of the car was also left in a critical condition in the smash shortly after 3.10am.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service maintains a high standard of recording where its vehicles have been involved in some form of collision during pursuits.

"Any damage, no matter how minor, would be recorded as a Pursuit Incident, these include minor scuffs or scratches on any vehicle and where the vehicle that failed to stop for police is damaged when it is abandoned by the suspect.

"The MPS continues to strive to reduce incidents resulting from pursuits and has a strict pursuit policy in line with nationally approved tactics. Only specially trained officers may carry out pursuits.

"All pursuits are controlled on a dedicated radio channel with Tactical Advisers using nationally-approved tactics to ensure any pursuits are brought to a safe conclusion or pre-emptive tactics to stop pursuits happening in the first place.

"New tactics and pursuit training has been developed and is currently being rolled out to all officers trained in tactical pursuit and containment tactics - again, to ensure pursuits are brought to a safe conclusion."

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