Investigation into a fatal road traffic incident following a police pursuit – Metropolitan Police Service, March 2023
In the early hours of the morning, police officers in a marked police car saw a motorcycle travel past them at an excessive speed. The motorcycle was carrying a driver and a passenger, and it went through a red light.
A pursuit was initiated after the motorcycle failed to stop. The police car pursued the motorcycle which travelled down the wrong side of the carriageway. The motorcycle hit the curb, causing it to collide with a central island.
The police car arrived at the scene of the collision a few seconds later. Other police units went to the scene to assist with first aid, as did the London Ambulance Service. One of the riders was declared dead at the scene and the second rider sustained serious injuries.
We received a death or serious injury referral from the Metropolitan Police Service. We investigated the nature and extent of police contact with the motorcycle riders before they were seriously injured or died; and whether there was any evidence the police may have caused or contributed to the serious injury or death.
We reviewed and analysed CCTV, body worn video, vehicle footage and airwaves transmissions. All police officers involved in the incident gave witness statements to our investigators, and the person who was seriously injured was interviewed and gave a witness account.
Local and national policies and guidance material were also reviewed and analysed against the accounts provided by the officers.
We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.
We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
We did not identify any organisational learning in this case.