Police to continue car chases

[Kinje]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...nue-car-chases

Police say they will continue chasing offenders who try to flee in cars, despite the dangers high speed pursuits pose.

Police have just completed their fourth review in six years of their pursuit policy - part of an on-going programme to monitor the sensitive area of police chases.

The finding: "There is insufficient evidence to support the banning of police pursuits.

"Pursuits are initiated for one simple reason, a driver fails to comply with a police officer's request to stop," said Superintendent Paula Rose.

"Police stop vehicles - many, many vehicles at all times of the day and night - and only a very small minority fail to comply. But we do need to ask the question as to why this driver did not want to talk to police."

She acknowledged police chases are "a complex policy problem for police, who endeavour to balance the needs of law enforcement with public safety."

She said drivers who try to flee police endanger the lives of members of the public, police staff, themselves and their passengers.

She said the debate around the benefit of pursuits versus the risks is not unique to New Zealand.

Overseas jurisdictions also review their policies to try to make sure their pursuit practice is as robust and as safe as possible.

International research divides pursuit policies into three main types: judgemental; restrictive; and discouragement.

New Zealand's current policy is a restrictive one and has been since 2004, Rose said - meaning the over-riding issue for police is "public and staff safety take precedence over the immediate apprehension
of the offender."

The report recommends that New Zealand's pursuit policy should stay restrictive but recommends a number of changes to enhance safety.

Rose said it was likely that technological advances and new operational procedures would be introduced at some stage.

Among the changes to be introduced are: police will role play pursuits in training so they are better able to cope with the real thing; more hands-free radio kits will be installed in police cars; if police identify who the driver is they are chasing the policy will be to stop chasing and pick them up later.

The full recommended changes:

* Amending the responsibilities of the Police passenger to abandon a pursuit if they are senior in rank or service, or have a higher Professional Police Driver Programme (PPDP) classification;

* Including role-specific training to all staff involved in pursuits, especially pursuit controllers;

Ad Feedback * Introducing primary and secondary units with specific roles and responsibilities during a pursuit, such as the secondary vehicle taking over the pursuit commentary if required;

* Continuing with the introduction of hands-free radios in operational vehicles;

* Introducing strategies to limit the number of vehicles in a pursuit - this includes encouraging units in the vicinity to head to key sites in the area that offenders may head to;

* Amending the current wording regarding the use of force in the legislative section and how it relates to pursuit activity;

* Extending the abandonment criteria;

* Introducing a search phase into policy and procedure, post-abandonment or when a vehicle is lost;

* Amending the current policy to reflect the procedure when the Aerial Surveillance Unit (ASU) is involved in a pursuit;

* Amending the communication procedure to include a prompt regarding the activation of lights and sirens during a pursuit; and

* Amending the policy to state that a pursuit is to be abandoned once an offender's identity becomes known and apprehension may be effected later, so long as there is no immediate threat to staff or public safety

There have reportedly been eight deaths associated with a police chase in the past six months.

The latest was in Christchurch last month.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority are investigating the death of a 22-year-old man after a two minute police chase at 12.20am on Sunday June 20.

The car being chased turned lost control, striking a tree. The pursuit lasted just over two minutes, Mr Johnston said.

The driver of the car died while being taken to hospital. Two female passengers suffered moderate injuries.

[SMOKEU]

Bullshit. Comms make the cops abandon most chases if the offender is prepared to drive way fast enough.

[onearmedbandit]

If someone wants to run and kills them self, then I fully support that.
If they flee and kill someone innocent, then that is a tragedy, but we can't stop the police from pursuing in the general interest of the public's safety. However if they survive then slap 'em with a murder charge.

[Headbanger]

If someone wants to run and kills them self, then I fully support that.
If they flee and kill someone innocent, then that is a tragedy, but we can't stop the police from pursuing in the general interest of the public's safety. However if they survive then slap 'em with a murder charge.

My sentiments exactly.

[98tls]

If someone wants to run and kills them self, then I fully support that.
If they flee and kill someone innocent, then that is a tragedy, but we can't stop the police from pursuing in the general interest of the public's safety. However if they survive then slap 'em with a murder charge.

The cops or the runner?or both?.

[Patrick]

The cops or the runner?or both?.

It's the cops fault.... (apparently.... always....)

The states have some things right... flee over there and it's felony evasion, 5 years jail.

Here, it's only just gone up to 3 months disqualification and possibly a fine. Before Dec 1 it was usually "Convicted and Discharged...." (ie: big fat nothing.....).

[Toaster]

Dammed if they do and dammed if they don't.

[Toaster]

felony evasion, 5 years jail.

If only!!!

[98tls]

It's the cops fault.... (apparently.... always....)

The states have some things right... flee over there and it's felony evasion, 5 years jail.

Here, it's only just gone up to 3 months disqualification and possibly a fine. Before Dec 1 it was usually "Convicted and Discharged...." (ie: big fat nothing.....).

Amazing eh,those that make up the rules in this country need a good arse kicking,ironic that if they performed so badly in the workplace anywhere else they would quick smart be sacked but hell no there free to carry on fucking up a once perfectly good country.

[Toaster]

I am in favour of the police dog having a compulsory chew......................

[Patrick]

.....

* Continuing with the introduction of hands-free radios in operational vehicles;

* Amending the current wording regarding the use of force in the legislative section and how it relates to pursuit activity;

* Extending the abandonment criteria;

* Amending the current policy to reflect the procedure when the Aerial Surveillance Unit (ASU) is involved in a pursuit;

* Amending the communication procedure to include a prompt regarding the activation of lights and sirens during a pursuit; and

The only new things are the 5 above - everything else already exists, so it's a reinvention of the wheel....... and most of this is radio procedures.

The chopper has always become the primary unit guiding the cars into the right areas, filming as they go...... But only in Auckland......

[Toaster]

Much of the time it is the weak applications of sentences.

Some offences carry good term lengths but they just get a smack on the hand instead.

Stick em in Jail and make them WORK for their taxpayer funded holiday behind bars... Jail needs to be a deterrent, not a free lunch and bed.

[Patrick]

I am in favour of the police dog having a compulsory chew......................

Gotta feed em something. May as well be an oxygen thief......

[Patrick]

Much of the time it is the weak applications of sentences.

Some offences carry good term lengths but they just get a smack on the hand instead.

Stick em in Jail and make them WORK for their taxpayer funded holiday behind bars... Jail needs to be a deterrent, not a free lunch and bed.

And not out in half the time served, regardless of how bad you behaved while in there.........

[onearmedbandit]

The cops or the runner?or both?.

The runners. However if the chasing unit/s are told to back down but don't then they too are culpable.

Make the rules plain and simple, for both sides.