Collision following pursuit - West Midlands Police, January 2018

On 14 January 2018 West Midlands Police (WMP) officers on mobile patrol in an unmarked vehicle spotted a suspicious car. They pulled up next to the car with their blue lights on and asked the driver to turn off their engine. The driver pulled off at speed. The officers began a spontaneous pursuit. The force control room confirmed the vehicle was stolen. The driver of the stolen car drove down a no entry road and the officers lost sight of it. When they saw it again it had collided with a stationary vehicle and had overturned. The driver of the stationary vehicle sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision.

Our Investigators conducted a detailed review of documentary evidence, including dash-cam footage from the police vehicle.

On the basis of the evidence available we did not consider that the actions of West Midlands Police caused or contributed to the serious injury sustained by the driver of the stationary vehicle. During the course of the incident, the officers appear to have acted in line with WMP’s pursuit policy when making decisions.

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