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| Moped gang attacks prompt review of police pursuit rules | Moped gang attacks prompt review of police pursuit rules |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Concerns have been raised that officers might not pursue suspects, particularly those without a helmet, for fear of prosecution | |
| Alan Travis Home affairs editor | |
| Mon 25 Sep 2017 19.12 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 16.26 GMT | |
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| A review of the law and practice regarding police pursuits is to be carried out to ensure officers feel they have the legal protection they need to go after moped and scooter gangs, the Home Office has announced. | A review of the law and practice regarding police pursuits is to be carried out to ensure officers feel they have the legal protection they need to go after moped and scooter gangs, the Home Office has announced. |
| There has been a spate of thefts and attacks by moped and motorbike gangs recently, in which necklaces, jewellery and phones have been snatched. | There has been a spate of thefts and attacks by moped and motorbike gangs recently, in which necklaces, jewellery and phones have been snatched. |
| The policing minister, Nick Hurd, said the review was needed because officers needed to have “confidence to protect the public by pursuing offenders where it is safe to do so”. | The policing minister, Nick Hurd, said the review was needed because officers needed to have “confidence to protect the public by pursuing offenders where it is safe to do so”. |
| A forum this month on motorcycle-related crime heard there was a perception among the public and some officers that police would not pursue suspected offenders riding vehicles at high speeds. In particular, the forum, which included representatives of the police, motorcycle industry and government departments, heard concerns that officers would not pursue a rider who was not wearing a helmet. | A forum this month on motorcycle-related crime heard there was a perception among the public and some officers that police would not pursue suspected offenders riding vehicles at high speeds. In particular, the forum, which included representatives of the police, motorcycle industry and government departments, heard concerns that officers would not pursue a rider who was not wearing a helmet. |
| Police staff associations say high-speed pursuits have been abandoned because of concerns that officers are at risk of prosecution if a pursuit ends in a crash. Figures from the Independent Police Complaints Commission show 28 people died in police pursuits in 2016/17, compared with 13 in 2015/16. | Police staff associations say high-speed pursuits have been abandoned because of concerns that officers are at risk of prosecution if a pursuit ends in a crash. Figures from the Independent Police Complaints Commission show 28 people died in police pursuits in 2016/17, compared with 13 in 2015/16. |
| In 2014 an 18-year-old man, Henry Hicks, was killed after colliding with a vehicle while he was on a moped. He was being pursued by two unmarked police cars in Islington, north London. Hicks knew police were chasing him before the crash, an inquest found. | In 2014 an 18-year-old man, Henry Hicks, was killed after colliding with a vehicle while he was on a moped. He was being pursued by two unmarked police cars in Islington, north London. Hicks knew police were chasing him before the crash, an inquest found. |
| The police have said that since then there have been strict conditions put on officers pursuing suspects on mopeds. | The police have said that since then there have been strict conditions put on officers pursuing suspects on mopeds. |
| This month a detective chief inspector, Mark Franklin, told the Croydon Advertiser: “After Henry Hicks, they [offenders] will speed off as fast as they can and then take their helmets off because they know we can’t chase them. | This month a detective chief inspector, Mark Franklin, told the Croydon Advertiser: “After Henry Hicks, they [offenders] will speed off as fast as they can and then take their helmets off because they know we can’t chase them. |
| “We have to phone the control room and say what kind of condition they are in. We have to say how many people there are and if they’re wearing helmets. You could say there’s two people, no helmets, and they will tell you to terminate it in case you injure them.” | “We have to phone the control room and say what kind of condition they are in. We have to say how many people there are and if they’re wearing helmets. You could say there’s two people, no helmets, and they will tell you to terminate it in case you injure them.” |
| The Home Office said there was no ban on pursuits where the rider was helmetless, and the review would clarify when a pursuit was justified. | The Home Office said there was no ban on pursuits where the rider was helmetless, and the review would clarify when a pursuit was justified. |
| Hurd said: “This government is determined to get ahead of and tackle emerging threats like motorcycle-related crimes, including those involving mopeds and scooters. People must be able to go about their daily lives without fear of harassment or attack and criminals must not think they can get away with a crime by riding or driving in a certain way or on a certain type of vehicle. | Hurd said: “This government is determined to get ahead of and tackle emerging threats like motorcycle-related crimes, including those involving mopeds and scooters. People must be able to go about their daily lives without fear of harassment or attack and criminals must not think they can get away with a crime by riding or driving in a certain way or on a certain type of vehicle. |
| “Police have made us aware of the concern among some officers over the legal position when pursuing suspected offenders, including those on mopeds and scooters. While it is clearly vital that we protect public safety and that officers are accountable for their actions, it is also important that skilled officers have the confidence to protect the public by pursuing offenders where it is safe to do so.” | “Police have made us aware of the concern among some officers over the legal position when pursuing suspected offenders, including those on mopeds and scooters. While it is clearly vital that we protect public safety and that officers are accountable for their actions, it is also important that skilled officers have the confidence to protect the public by pursuing offenders where it is safe to do so.” |
| Tim Rogers, the lead on the issue for the Police Federation of England and Wales, welcomed the review. “Trained professionals are being judged by the same standards as a member of the public in any normal driving situation with no differentiation in law to recognise the professional training emergency response drivers undertake,” he said. | Tim Rogers, the lead on the issue for the Police Federation of England and Wales, welcomed the review. “Trained professionals are being judged by the same standards as a member of the public in any normal driving situation with no differentiation in law to recognise the professional training emergency response drivers undertake,” he said. |
| • This article was amended on 27 September 2017. An earlier version said that Henry Hicks was killed in a collision with an unmarked police car. Hicks died after a collision with a vehicle, which happened while he was being pursued by two unmarked police cars. | • This article was amended on 27 September 2017. An earlier version said that Henry Hicks was killed in a collision with an unmarked police car. Hicks died after a collision with a vehicle, which happened while he was being pursued by two unmarked police cars. |
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