Collision following pursuit - Nottinghamshire Police, November 2018

On 19 November 2018 a marked Nottinghamshire Police vehicle, responding to a report of a stolen car, pursued the suspect car, which made off at speed through a residential estate. The pursuit continued and the pursued car was then involved in two collisions with cars driven by members of the public. The second collision resulted in a member of the public sustaining serious injuries.

Our investigators conducted a detailed review of the evidence. This included police logs and the statements of the police officers concerned. We analysed and compared police officers’ body-worn video footage, and vehicle-mounted camera footage, along with radio transmissions.

Evidence suggested that the driver of the pursued car drove in a manner compliant with road traffic regulations up to the point that it pulled away from the police vehicle and the pursuit commenced. The pursuit was properly authorised and may be considered to have been necessary and proportionate. During the pursuit, the driver of the pursued car failed to stop for the police and drove in a manner which placed members of the public at risk.

The member of the public sustained their injuries when they pulled into the path of the pursued car, which at the time was driving at approximately 70mph, well in excess of the speed limit in force on that stretch of road. At the time of the collision the police vehicle was approximately 200 metres behind the pursued car.

Based on the evidence available we found 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 completed our investigation in February 2019.

After reviewing our report, Nottinghamshire Police agreed.