Road traffic incident following police pursuit - Essex Police, January 2023
In November 2021, a man died in a collision on Pound Lane, Basildon. He was driving in a van, carrying three other people, when a police unit decided to attempt to stop the vehicle. A brief pursuit ensued and the driver lost control of the vehicle at a traffic calming measure leading to the van overturning and coming to rest on the driver’s side. The man died at the scene, while the passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Our investigators obtained body worn footage from 18 police officers (including the officers involved in the pursuit), CCTV from seven different locations, airwaves recordings, telematics data from the police vehicle and statements from key police witnesses, civilian witnesses and expert witnesses. While every effort was made to engage with the passengers of the pursued vehicle, attempts to obtain statements were unsuccessful. No dash camera footage was available from either vehicle involved in the pursuit, nor was a toxicology or forensic collision report.
Our investigation concluded there was no indication any police officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or 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 we identified areas for organisational improvement.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police should implement a process to ensure that relevant refresher training is provided to all staff managing pursuits, in line with APP guidance. The pursuit management policy should outline the specific training required, the frequency of repeat training, and how compliance with the policy will be monitored.
This follows an IOPC investigation into the death of a teenage boy during a police pursuit. The boy was the driver of the vehicle police pursued.
During the investigation, it was identified that the force control room operator for the pursuit had not received any refresher training on pursuit management since their initial course, which they had undertaken some ten to 15 years ago. The APP guidance and local pursuit procedure state that ‘All staff involved in managing pursuits should receive refresher training every two to three years.’ The evidence gathered in the course of the investigation indicates that the force does not systematically keep records to audit compliance with training requirements.
While it was not found that the operator’s lack of refresher training had any bearing on the outcome of this pursuit, insufficient training and possible lack of force awareness of this issue could lead to significant risks for those involved in the management of pursuits, police drivers, and members of the public.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
Currently driver training in Essex involves sending staff externally for training in pursuit management to Sussex and Surrey Police. This arrangement will continue whilst Essex Police develops its own training.
There is now a set agreement to provide this training in force and this is a joint venture between the Pursuit Management working group and Driver Training.
Representatives from both groups have visited Kent Police (who Essex Police collaborate with) to view their input and assess whether it meets the needs, before developing an Essex specific course which is expected to be ready post April 2023.
The course will be 1 day for an FCR controller/2 day for supervisors with a follow up of a half day refresher every 3 years.
Records will be kept on the IT chronicle system used by Essex Police and this will flag the training date and flag when a refresher is due
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police takes steps to ensure that all officers who transfer from another force are directed to review the relevant policies and procedures for their role on joining. In particular, officers should be supported to understand any areas where these policies and procedures may differ from those adopted by their previous force.
This follows an IOPC investigation into the death of a teenage boy during a police pursuit. The boy was the driver of the vehicle police pursued.
Evidence gathered during the investigation indicated that officers transferring from other forces with Initial Phase Pursuit authorisation were not being explicitly informed of any aspects of Essex Police’s pursuit policy that differ from the policies and procedures in place at their previous force, nor were they supported with familiarising themselves with the local policies that may impact on their role. This led to a situation in which the police driver unwittingly departed from local policy, although they followed national guidance. This situation could give rise to increased risk of non-adherence to Essex Police’s policies and procedures.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
A Standard Operating Procedure is currently being drafted which will set out a requirement for all transferees to be directed to review all relevant policies and procedures for their roles. Local line managers will be supported in ensuring officers are signposted to those policies and procedures which might be different to the force they transferred from. The Standard Operating Procedure will be shared with the IOPC once the final draft has been approved, which Essex Police aim to have completed by 31st May 2023.