Fatal collision following pursuit - Metropolitan Police Service, February 2019

Metropolitan Police Service · Ref: 2019/116007

Recommendation date: 18 September 2019

Response due: 5 December 2019

Published: 10 October 2019

Death and serious injury Road traffic incidents

On 23 February 2019 Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers in south-east London decided to stop and speak with the driver of a van who they felt stopped unusually close to their vehicle at a red traffic signal. This prompted officers to follow the vehicle into a residential estate, where they activated the blue flashing lights and sirens of the police vehicle to signal to the van driver to stop. Following this, as the van exited the residential estate, the driver suddenly accelerated and made off. The police vehicle followed in a pursuit of the van, which lasted approximately 31 seconds. The pursuit came to an end when the van drove onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with another vehicle. The two occupants of the other vehicle died at the scene of the collision. The driver of the van was later sentenced to nine years in prison …

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Recommendations (2)

Recommendation 1 Accepted

Recommendation

The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service ensures that: Its officers understand how and where on a vehicle life hammers should be used, and where alternative methods may be more effective.It has a system for making sure that life … Read more

Force Response

Accepted action: The MPS ensures its officers understand how and where on a vehicle life hammers should be used, and where alternative methods may be more effective. It is accepted that the MPS has no guidance on the use of … Read moreAccepted action: The MPS ensures its officers understand how and where on a vehicle life hammers should be used, and where alternative methods may be more effective. It is accepted that the MPS has no guidance on the use of the glass breaking hammer installed in its vehicles (brand name LifeHammer). The hammer and alternative equipment are currently being assessed by a review team set up by the Fleet Board Working Group. On 22nd November 2019 the Vehicle Window Glass Equipment Review Team discussed and agreed that it is necessary to provide MPS vehicle users with interim information and guidance about the hammer currently installed in some MPS vehicles, and how it should be used. This communication will explain that the hammer is provided solely as an escape tool to help the occupants exit the vehicle in the event of an emergency. This is in line with the published recommendations of its manufacturer. In addition, details of how the hammer should be used will be provided (in line with the manufacturer’s instructions), and it will also be made clear that using the hammer for purposes other than MPS vehicle escape could make it blunt and less effective. Following approval by the relevant parties (Head of Fleet Services, Directorate of Professional Standards and Directorate of Media and Communication), the guidance will be published on the MPS intranet site as an Operational Notice by Friday 6th December 2019. With regards to alternative methods which may be more effective when an MPS vehicle user (or member of the public) is trapped in a vehicle, the internal communications will include a reminder that the London Fire Brigade has specialist equipment with which to rescue people from a vehicle in an emergency situation. The MPS ensures it has a system for making sure that life hammers are replaced where necessary. The MPS have a system in place for ensuring that Life Hammers are replaced when used according to manufacturer’s instructions, namely exiting a vehicle in an emergency situation. When the hammer is used for this purpose, the vehicle will have been damaged in an accident or other incident. The vehicle will therefore be collected and taken to one of the MPS or contractor workshops for repair. Before repaired vehicles are returned to service, the hammer will be replaced if it is missing or if it shows any signs of use. Communications are being developed specifically to ensure that the hammer is only used to aid escape from a MPS vehicle in an emergency situation. However, if the hammer is used for another purpose leading to concerns about its effectiveness as an escape tool, a replacement hammer will be provided on request. Please note that this situation will be reviewed following the completion of the current vehicle window glass-breaking equipment review in 2020. Where possible any future procurement exercises obtain equipment that officers can use to break all types of vehicle windows, including laminated windows. The Fleet Board Working Group, the Strategic Fleet Board, and Officer Safety Board will be involved in agreeing any changes to be made to current equipment and/or the introduction of new equipment. To inform their decisions, the Vehicle Window Glass Equipment Review Team are currently reviewing equipment capable of breaking laminated windows. The provisional date for the review team’s recommendation of equipment for MPS use is June 2020. The approval of recommendations by the Fleet Board Working Group and Officer Safety Board will be taken in the Summer of 2020. It will only be at this time that a date can be advised when any changes to in-vehicle equipment will be made, and new guidance introduced. Show less

Recommendation 2 Accepted

Recommendation

The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs’ Council shares the learning from this investigation with relevant force leads, asking them to ensure that, if any of their fleet vehicles contain life hammers: Their officers understand how and where on … Read more

Force Response

Accepted action: This recommendation has been accepted in full, and a letter has been circulated to all chief constables outlining the concerns raised by this investigation, and action that they should now take within their own force. These actions are … Read more