Cyclist injured in collision following pursuit - Hampshire Constabulary, January 2018

In January 2018 Hampshire Constabulary officers were on patrol in the Southsea area of Portsmouth, driving an armed response vehicle, when they identified a vehicle being driven at speed. Officers engaged their emergency lighting equipment and proceeded to follow the vehicle in order to stop it. In the course of following, a vehicle pulled out into their path from a side road, and a collision occurred. At the same time, a member of the public was cycling along the road and the collision resulted in the cyclist being knocked off their bicycle and sustaining serious leg injuries.

Our investigators attended the scene and undertook a CCTV trawl of the area. They also obtained statements from police officers and the injured cyclist, as well as a forensic collision report produced by collision experts. This information was examined and compared with data downloaded from the police vehicle’s system, along with CCTV footage.

Evidence appeared to indicate that officers took reasonable decisions and actions based on the information and intelligence they had at the time. The evidence suggested the officers were operating within the powers afforded to them. They considered their surroundings and developed a working strategy in line with the national decision-making model, and acted within relevant policy and guidelines.

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.