Investigation into a collision leaving a pedestrian with serious head injuries – Greater Manchester Police, December 2020

Police officers were sent to a domestic incident and began their journey to the address given. During this journey, the officers decided to overtake a civilian car by moving into the opposite carriageway. They then drove the wrong way round a traffic island. 

The police vehicle struck a pedestrian who was crossing the road next to the traffic island. The pedestrian sustained serious head injuries.

We received a death or serious injury referral from Greater Manchester Police and decided to carry out an independent investigation into the collision. 

We investigated the actions of the officers when responding to the incident. This included the manner of driving, the use of emergency equipment, and the officers’ risk assessments throughout their journey to the incident. 

We also examined whether the officers’ actions were in line with their driving authority, local and national policies and procedures, and their training.

Our investigators reviewed CCTV footage of the officers’ journey, body worn video footage and the radio transmissions relating to the incident. We obtained statements from several witnesses and interviewed the drivers of the police cars. Data from the police cars was downloaded, reviewed and analysed. 

The officers’ training records were reviewed, along with policies and guidance on police driving and responding to incidents.

At the conclusion of our investigation, we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider criminal charges against two of the officers. 

The CPS authorised charges against one of the officers, who was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in April 2023. They were sentenced to 30 months in prison in May 2023. The officer was dismissed from Greater Manchester Police at an accelerated misconduct hearing in November 2023.

We recommended that another officer should face a gross misconduct hearing. This took place in January 2025. The panel concluded that one of the allegations was proved and that the officer’s conduct justified disciplinary action but fell short of justifying his dismissal. He received a final written warning. This will remain on file for two years. 

We recommended that another officer undertake the reflective practice review process. 

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.