Pursuit procedures `deficient`

Northern Ireland’s procedures and training for dealing with car chases have been criticised by the Police Ombudsman.

Following an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Raymond Robinson, Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan said the incident had been a “tragic accident” and “no individual officer was guilty of misconduct”. However, “severely deficient” police training and pursuit policies may have contributed to the fatality.

Mr Robinson was being were pursued by PSNI officers in April 2004 when his car slid down a steep bank towards a stream. He became trapped under the vehicle and drowned.

“(The officers) at the scene did all they could to free Raymond from beneath the car.”

A post mortem revealed that he had twice the legal driving limit of alcohol in his bloodstream at the time of his death, as well as traces of solvents and cannabis.

Mrs O`Loan recommended that PSNI develop a new pursuit policy including police control rooms playing a greater role in managing pursuits with specialist commentary training an essential part of police driver training and drivers given guidance about the need for control room authorisation for pursuits.

“It is my hope that the introduction of the new policy will greatly reduce the likelihood of such tragic incidents occurring in the future,” she said.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The Police Service will study the contents of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland report. We welcome the Ombudsman`s findings that no officer was guilty of misconduct.

“This was a tragic accident. A new pursuit policy has been developed and we are in the process of rolling out the training to deliver on the implementation of that policy as quickly as possible.”