15 replies to this topic

[smt]

Greater Manchester police officer charged after high-speed chase ends in four-car smash in Leigh


A police officer has been charged with dangerous driving after a high-speed chase ended in a four-car smash.

PC Daniel Aimson, 30, has been summonsed to court following an investigation into the crash by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. (IPCC)

He was driving a fully-marked BMW which collided with two cars – one of which was knocked into another vehicle - at the junction of Lord Street and Spinning Jenny Way in Leigh town centre on November 27.

The matter was handed to the IPCC by Greater Manchester Police.

PC Aimson, who is based at Swinton police station, will appear at Wigan Magistrates Court on June 27.

Four people were cut free from the wreckage caused by the crash, including a 44-year-old male passenger who suffered a dislocated shoulder and leg injuries. Two drivers and a second passenger were treated for whiplash and shock. Pc Aimson suffered a broken nose and leg injuries and was taken to Salford Royal Hospital.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “A Greater Manchester Police officer has been summonsed to face a charge of dangerous driving following an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.

“Pc Daniel Aimson, 30, who is based at Swinton Police Station, will appear before Wigan Magistrates' Court on 28 June 2012.

“The charge relates to an incident on 27 November 2011 in which a police car driven by Pc Aimson was involved in a collision with two cars – one of which then collided with a third car - at the junction of Lord Street and Spinning Jenny Way in Leigh.

“The IPCC independently investigated the incident following a referral by Greater Manchester Police.”

Source

[Sam Vimes]

No comments about what took place of who is deemed responsible, but regardless of whether he is at fault or not, it's another nail in the pursuit coffin.

[Burnie]

Hardly, based in the story HE in the police car crashed into another vehicle.

Unlike the other cases where it was argued that the pursued cars actions could be attributed to the police driver or that "typical urban pursuit" driving amounted to dangerous driving this appears to be a case of a police driver crashing into other road users.

[gordon]

No comments about what took place of who is deemed responsible, but regardless of whether he is at fault or not, it's another nail in the pursuit coffin.

Possibly, or just another nail in dangerous pursuit drivings coffin. But the report is very sparse on details which is only right as the case is going to court very soon, so we can just wait and see at the end of next month what comes out.

[Rocket]

Not much info from the IPCC so I did some research and got an article from the Manchester Evening News about it the day after it happened;

Five injured as police chase through Leigh town centre ends in pile-up
Exclusive by Richard Wheatstone November 28, 2011




Five people were hurt when a high-speed police chase ended in a four-car smash.

The collision happened as a police car pursued a suspected stolen Daihatsu Charade through Leigh town
centre.

The police car collided with two Ford Kas and a Citroen C5. Four people were cut free from the Ford Kas,
including a 46-year-old male passenger who suffered a dislocated shoulder and leg injuries.

Two drivers and a second passenger were treated for whiplash and shock. The police driver, who suffered a broken nose and leg injuries, was taken to Salford Royal Infirmary. He has now been suspended from driving duties. The Daihatsu was not involved in the collision and sped off.

But three men were later arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent. The crash happened shortly before 10am yesterday at the junction of Chapel Street and Lord Street South. Witnesses said the short pursuit through Leigh town centre was at high speed. It began after the Daihatsu failed to stop for police on Chapel Street.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "After a few hundred yards, the Daihatsu turned on to Lord Street South. "When the police car was turning this corner, it was in a collision which involved another three cars; two Ford Kas and a Citroen C5. "The Daihatsu was stopped a short time later and three people were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and remain in police custody.

Inquiries are ongoing." GMPs Professional Standards Board will now consider whether to refer the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Student Antonio Carta, 54, of Palatine Square, Leigh,
witnessed the aftermath of the smash. He said: "It was quite a shocking scene and after seeing how badly damaged the vehicles were Im surprised no-one was more badly hurt. "There was debris lying all across the road and although I didnt see the crash itself, it was obvious there had been a big impact."

http://menmedia.co.u...nds-in-pile-up-

[Radman]

I think the days of pursuits are numbered if I'm being honest - in this overly sensitive, financially driven world of ours it just doesn't make economic sense...

The criminals will love it...

Personally just do as they do in the states, any crash that occurs during the pursuit of criminals have them charged with it and custodial sentences handed out appropriately, it is afterall their fault for not pulling over for police when directed... (I don't mean sentencing to a Norway style beach prison either as some on here would want...)

Edited by Radman, 25 May 2012 - 03:22 PM.

[Sam Vimes]

Hardly, based in the story HE in the police car crashed into another vehicle.

Unlike the other cases where it was argued that the pursued cars actions could be attributed to the police driver or that "typical urban pursuit" driving amounted to dangerous driving this appears to be a case of a police driver crashing into other road users.

Which is exactly what I was saying... regardless of whether the accident was the fault of the Cop or not, an accident that comes about during a pursuit is another nail in the coffin for pursuits.

I bet pursuits will be banned without some caveat such as ASU being on scene, within the next 5 years.

[Dave SYP]

Scenes of carnage like this will only end one way, more recommendations for prosecuting bobbies doing their job, instead of dealing with an errant police driver through current adequate internal procedures. Why pursue in the first place? ... Because the offender failed to stop! Why did they fail to stop? ... Because they wished to evade capture/prosecution! Who is at fault? ... Well, in more than enough cases THE OFFICER it seems! ... CRAZY!!!

[andituk]

Happened right outside my future station (which is to the left of the photographer in that pic). He's actually turned left at the junction and hit cars on the opposite side of the road, so make of that what you will.

[rosco]

Looks like the KAs had their roofs removed, probably to extract the injured, so that will make it look pretty bad, but the damage to the front of the police car does look pretty significant.

I do think that there does need to be some proportion here though: much as officers like catching the bad guy it's also hardly fair that innocent MOPs can be caught up in it with potentially devastating consequences.

Having met, many years ago, someone who had a family member killed after a collision with a police car on New Years eve makes you consider the impacts that can occur.

[Lucas North]

I really wish all Standard, Advanced, TPAC, etc drivers would start refusing to respond to calls on blues, as a sign of protest.

This is hardly the US is it?

[recovery man]

I really wish all Standard, Advanced, TPAC, etc drivers would start refusing to respond to calls on blues, as a sign of protest.

good point.

[Onlyme2008]

I have to agree, these people that avoid capture need to be taken of the streets, how ever that can't be at any cost, when innocent people start getting hurt, or killed some thing need's doing, because that does not help any one, officer involved, public alike.

Edited by Onlyme2008, 25 May 2012 - 10:01 PM.

[Lucas North]

I have to agree, these people that avoid capture need to be taken of the streets, how ever that can't be at any cost, when innocent people start getting hurt, or killed some thing need's doing, because that does not help any one, officer involved, public alike.

But what can be done? Pursuit drivers in this country are, in a sense, better drivers than those on the F1 grid. The training is second-to-none and only the very best make the grade.

If pursuits are banned because "now and then" someone gets killed... then that will be ridiculous.


There are thousands of deaths each year on our roads - do we ban all cars to prevent this? No, because that would be ridiculous... as would letting criminals get away "just in case" a pursuit goes wrong.


It's funny, many years ago I wanted to be a firearms officer - nowadays I wouldn't touch the job with a 60ft pole. I'm now thinking the same about blue lights - if I ever do join as a Constable, do I really want a blue light ticket, when there's a chance I could end up in jail because of an accident? Sod that for a caramel biscuit...



Edit: Spellingz

Edited by Lucas North, 26 May 2012 - 03:10 AM.

[MacGregor]

No comment to be made on this case, shall wait and see what is decided at court.

There is a possibility that however well trained the driver may be that they messed up. Why should they not be held to account where there is evidence of negligence when members of the public are prosecuted for doing silly things on the roads?

Police officers are not above the law at the end of the day and whilst there obviously needs to be a degree of caution exercised when deciding whether or not a pursuit driver should be prosecuted I think they should be held accountable where there is evidence of wrong doing.

[Hades]

I really wish all Standard, Advanced, TPAC, etc drivers would start refusing to respond to calls on blues, as a sign of protest.

This is hardly the US is it?

it's possible the driver was doing so dangerously - It doesn't seem as clear cut as the recent Hants case where the driving was quite obviously in accordance with training... There was a decent crash, so obviously something must have gone wrong with the driving or planning!

If thats the case then it;s right that they're treated as a member of public would be.

The issue raised recently in the Hants pursuit case is different and really needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later by an urgent change in legislation!