Fatal injury after car failed to stop for police check – West Midlands Police, January 2021

On 21 January 2021, West Midlands Police officers in a marked police vehicle carried out a check on a BMW car. As a result of the check, they attempted to stop the BMW by activating lights and sirens, but the BMW failed to stop. 

The control room authorized a pursuit. An officer in an additional marked police vehicle explained that they also followed the pursuit should a tactical option be necessary. 

After several high-risk manoeuvres by the BMW, at the request of control room, the pursuit was abandoned by the initial marked police vehicle and the additional police unit disengaged.

Shortly after the pursuit had been abandoned, officers were stationary in a third marked police vehicle when they saw a BMW drive past at speed. This police vehicle drove in the direction of the BMW and in the distance, saw a vehicle in the air and go over the central reservation landing on its roof. Officers did not witness the moment of collision itself. 

Attendance at the scene confirmed that the BMW had collided with a car driven by a member of the public. This car had gone over the central reservation landing on its roof. One of the three passengers died. 

This came to our attention as a death or serious injury referral and our staff attended the scene and post incident procedure to start an independent investigation.

During our investigation, investigators examined several pieces of evidence including the in-car police footage, the officers body worn video footage, the police radio transmissions, the police incident log, the officer’s training records, pathology reports, collision reports, and relevant police policy and procedures.

We also obtained witness accounts from the key police witnesses.

Our investigation concluded in September 2021.

We concluded there was no indication any police officer had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence.

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. 

In this case, the investigation has not identified any organizational learning.