Road traffic incident following pursuit - Norfolk Constabulary, Suffolk Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, National Police Air Service, April 2018

On 25 April 2018 Norfolk Constabulary responded to reports of an aggravated burglary in Norwich. A group of suspects were seen leaving the scene in a vehicle. Norfolk Constabulary units were deployed to locate and follow the vehicle, which was then identified to be heading towards Suffolk. Once it had entered their county, Suffolk Constabulary took over command of the incident and deployed units in attempt to stop the vehicle. A National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was also deployed to follow the vehicle and assist with the pursuit. As the pursuit continued, Cambridgeshire Constabulary was notified of the oncoming incident. The pursuit concluded when the vehicle lost control when entering a slip road and rolled over several times, causing injuries to all six people who were in the vehicle.

Our investigators reviewed footage from the police vehicles involved in the pursuit and from the NPAS helicopter, as well as incident logs and radio transmissions, to identify the timeline of events. They obtained statements from over 40 police officers from all police forces involved, which were analysed and compared to the visual and audio footage. Investigators also considered local and national policies relating to police pursuits.

The evidence suggests that the driver of the suspect vehicle was already driving at high speed before police vehicles were involved, as well as during the period in which police vehicles observed without illuminating their lights, suggesting that the police vehicles following it did not pressurise the driver into driving at high speed.

During the investigation, 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. There was no indication to suggest that the police vehicles contributed to the suspect vehicle losing control and overturning.

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.