Collision following pursuit - Greater Manchester Police, December 2017

On 3 December 2017 two Greater Manchester Police officers were on uniformed patrol in a marked police car in the north of Manchester. While stationary at traffic lights, the officers witnessed two cars travelling through the junction at speed, coming from the opposite direction. Within seconds of the activation of the police cars emergency warning lights, one of the two cars collided head-on with another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. The passenger of the vehicle sustained injuries.

During the investigation, investigators reviewed statements from officers and two passengers who were travelling in the car being followed by police. In addition to this, they also reviewed in-car footage and radio transmission, and obtained a statement obtained from a forensic collision investigator.

Evidence showed that less than two minutes elapsed between police officers first seeing the car until it collided with the other vehicle. At the time of the collision the police vehicle was estimated to be 120 metres behind. Evidence also suggested that the occupants of the car were unaware of the presence of the police vehicle pursuing.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.