Bob
1st July 2006, 00:28
A young biker was left stunned when police refused to chase a thief who had just stolen his moped… because the thief was not wearing a helmet!
Max Foster, 18, from Bath was told that officers feared being sued if the thief fell off, leaving the thief to get away with the £1,200 Gilera 180cc moped which only had Third Party insurance.
Foster said "They told me 'sorry mate but there's nothing we can do'. They said they couldn't follow them because they might get sued if the kids fall off and hurt themselves. This policy is giving thieves a perfect way to exploit the law and steal as many bikes as they want without getting arrested."
Avon and Somerset police admitted calling off the chase but said its investigation into the theft continued. A spokesman said that aborting a pursuit because the rider is not wearing a crash helmet is one of the "options available" to officers when "members of the public or the riders themselves could be put in danger".
He added: "If a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet there are a number of options available to police including not closing in on the suspect. That is that if a motorbike chase is likely to cause injury or harm to either the rider or the public, then most officers will cancel it and use other methods of catching the culprit, such as helicopters."
Councillors in Bath claim the policy will encourage thieves in the area. Liberal Democrat Sharon Ball "There is a terrible bike theft problem in this area and this crazy approach means the issue will just get worse and worse. These young kids will hear about this loophole on the underworld grapevine and exploit to the full."
Max Foster, 18, from Bath was told that officers feared being sued if the thief fell off, leaving the thief to get away with the £1,200 Gilera 180cc moped which only had Third Party insurance.
Foster said "They told me 'sorry mate but there's nothing we can do'. They said they couldn't follow them because they might get sued if the kids fall off and hurt themselves. This policy is giving thieves a perfect way to exploit the law and steal as many bikes as they want without getting arrested."
Avon and Somerset police admitted calling off the chase but said its investigation into the theft continued. A spokesman said that aborting a pursuit because the rider is not wearing a crash helmet is one of the "options available" to officers when "members of the public or the riders themselves could be put in danger".
He added: "If a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet there are a number of options available to police including not closing in on the suspect. That is that if a motorbike chase is likely to cause injury or harm to either the rider or the public, then most officers will cancel it and use other methods of catching the culprit, such as helicopters."
Councillors in Bath claim the policy will encourage thieves in the area. Liberal Democrat Sharon Ball "There is a terrible bike theft problem in this area and this crazy approach means the issue will just get worse and worse. These young kids will hear about this loophole on the underworld grapevine and exploit to the full."