Collision following pursuit - Metropolitan Police Service, November 2018

On 29 November 2018, while performing speed enforcements duties, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers spotted a vehicle travelling in excess of the speed limit. The officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, however, the driver failed to stop for them. The officers continued to follow the suspect vehicle and a pursuit was authorised.

Shortly afterwards, the driver of the suspect vehicle drove over the central reservation and onto the wrong side of the road in order to drive around stationary traffic. The police vehicle did not follow and the pursuit ended.

A short while later, a second police vehicle spotted the same suspect vehicle and turned round in order to follow it. However, the vehicle was too far ahead for them to attempt to stop it. After following directions given by members of the public, the officers in the second police vehicle came across a man lying in the road who had been struck by the suspect vehicle. Officers provided medical care to the man, who was suspected to be seriously injured, and later taken to hospital.

Our investigators were deployed to the scene of the collision and post-incident procedures. The officers involved provided witness statements. We also obtained and reviewed video footage from two police vehicles, alongside CCTV from a local bus. We obtained an incident log created to record details of the pursuit. Our investigators also analysed a collision investigation report, alongside radio transmissions made and received by the officers.

We were of the opinion that the pursuit had been conducted diligently by all the officers and in line with the appropriate policies and procedures.

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. We concluded our investigation in March 2019.