Collision after pursuit - Essex Police, March 2018

On 24 March 2018, a Volkswagen Golf was reported as being stolen in Essex. At around 11pm that night, two officers from Essex Police located the car in a layby near Colchester. The Golf drove away before officers could speak to its driver. Shortly afterwards, the Golf passed another police car, which indicated for the driver to pull over. The driver did not stop when requested and there was a short pursuit. The pursuit lasted for just over a minute before officers lost sight of the Golf. Having conducted an area search for the vehicle, officers were flagged down by members of the public and directed to a location where the Golf had crashed. Its sole occupant sustained severe injuries.

Our investigators attended the scene and post-incident procedures. They analysed data downloaded from the police vehicles involved. They obtained CCTV showing parts of the pursuit and the crash itself. We also conducted a witness appeal.

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