8 PSNI officers disciplined for breaking rules on high risk police pursuits

By Adam Evans

8 PSNI officers have been disciplined for breaking rules on high risk police pursuits after a fatal crash near Carryduff and a serious collision in Newtownabbey.

The Police Ombudsman has released his findings in two investigations.

A 19-year-old man was killed and two people were seriously hurt when a car driven by a 16-year-old collided with an oncoming vehicle.

It happened during a police chase near Carryduff in October 2014.

In February 2016 there was a second incident in Newtownabbey area.

Dr Michael Maguire found PSNI guidelines were breached including that 3 police cars were used in one of the pursuits when the policy is a maximum of two.

"I must make it clear that the people responsible for these collisions were the drivers who failed to stop for the police, said Dr Maguire.  

"But as these drivers were clearly prepared to place themselves and others in danger in their determination to get away, police should have followed their own policy and stopped the pursuits.

"Both incidents involved cars travelling at high speeds through built up areas, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles and running red lights, while police continued to give chase.

Dr Maguire added, "I must make it clear that the people responsible for these collisions were the drivers who failed to stop for the police".

"But as these drivers were clearly prepared to place themselves and others in danger in their determination to get away, police should have followed their own policy and stopped the pursuits.

"Both incidents involved cars travelling at high speeds through built up areas, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles and running red lights, while police continued to give chase."