I was just thinking, why is it acceptable for the police to do 50-60+ in a built up area chasing after a stolen car worth a couple of grand when according to the government and DoT it is socially irresponsible and dangerous to do 35 on the same roads? Either the speed limit is wrong (which it is sometimes, but not THAT wrong) or the police regularly risk people's lives by dangerous driving for the sake of maybe catching two joyriders in a clapped out Nova and giving them a 2 week holiday in the Bahamas. True they are better trained than most drivers, but if Colin McRae was caught doing 55 in a 30 zone he wouldn't be let off for his driving ability so why should a copper get preferential treatment? I can't see how the police can vehemently state that speeding is socially unacceptable on the one hand, and that they will crack down hard on it, when on the other they are the main culprits. If they were trying to catch a bunch of armed terrorists then I can understand it, but surely chasing joyriders just eggs them on to faster speeds and increases the risks of an accident.

Should the police maybe think of slowing down a bit and using other methods to stop crime that don't cause as much danger to innocent civilians?

True - but - they can't just slow down when they enter a 30 limit and watch the crims pull away can they? If your car had been nicked, you'd like them to do everything they could to recover it ASAP wouldn't you?

Matt.

Recent death of three lads in Norfolk highlighted this question, the parents asked why were they being chased causing them to lose control of the car and hit a tree?

Reason, because they had just burgled a house and were escaping in a stolen car.
If they were innocent why not just stop, at the end of the day the police didn't drive the car into the tree the driver did.

I suppose you have to ask yourself, if it were your car they just stole, your mum they just mugged etc.. would you want the old bill to let them go or take the risk and catch them?(Then have the government send them on a safari to learn the error of their ways)

Mutant_matt - no, I'd rather lose my car than have some innocent people's lives risked. In hostage situations, the police usually would rather let the criminal get away than risk civilian life, so why is it different when a car is involved? I'm sorry but even recovering a McLaren F1 (or trying to hehe) is not worth causing serious risk to someone's life.

DJFish - if some burglars/car thieves kill themselves by stupidity I don't really care. I'm talking about the police pushing them to higher speeds and causing death or serious injury to passersby. Sometimes it's the police themselves who kill pedestrians.

[This message has been edited by matt_d (edited 09 March 2001).]

matt, at least half the time the police have no idea why they are chasing a car but if the driver refuses to stop what else can they do? if they didn't pursue the vehicle surely the scum would soon realise this and take the piss even more than they do now. so called joyriders drive like maniacs regardless of wether they are being pursued or not. do you want the police to hang out of the car window asking the scum if they are a terrorist so it's okay to have a chase? you mention other methods -- what would these be?? and if it was your car they'd nicked fine, you might not want it back, but you'd want them caught if they nicked it then used it to burgle your mums house and give her a good kicking whilst nicking her life savings! pumpers.

I'm not sure where this particular thread has come from. People who steal cars won't by default drive carefully and responsibly, they may well drive recklessly. A follow/persuit is not the only response to this sort of crime. Police may use helicopters, stinger, letting them go etc.

Lets take a slightly different situation imagine that you are being subjected to a violent assault. Which kind of Police response would you prefer:

a) We'll get to you as quickly as the speed limit allows Sir, please hang on.
b) We'll get to you as quickly as we can, and using our training and judgement we will avoid compromising the safety of others.

In fact I'm willing to be that most people faced with a life threatening situation would cheerfully abandon their concern for other road users and want the old bill to get to them yesterday.

The Police driver is accountable for his or her actions behind the wheel of the car. There is no special licence they drive on when they get points for motoring offences they receive the points on their own licence. And they do.

They have a job to do and its a job that most people wouldn't want. Give them some credit for that.

PC Plod ALWAYS drove too fast when chasing me in the 70's - not fast enough though as they never ever caught me!! tee hee http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/smile.gif

I must say however that I have been an angel through the 80's 90's and 00's so far!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

I hasten to add that the chases were always in the wee small hours and the roads were empty - the cop cars were also little Escort MK2's - so not too much bother (no helicopters in the sky then either - no cameras ) Highly irresponsible, yes, do NOT try this at home children! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

I, personally, would not have driven as fast and wild as I did had a police car not been behind me with lights flashing and siren going!! - you simply cant stop or you are in big, big, big sh1t

So, from a stand point of having done it - I say if they are not driving in such a way as to hurt someone else - stay well back and DONT chase

After what time is an traffic offence considered dead?? 6 months?? I hope to god its not 30 years!!!!!! http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/biggrin.gif

Pete

what next you want the fire service and ambulance service to stick to the speed limits.
Why knock the police only.

After several fatal T/A's in Sydney the Police now as policy do not get involved in high speed pursuits. Too much bad publicity in the papers etc. They use their air wing and surround them instead.

Oh and there is an alarm/tracker type system available there that will shut down the car and lock the doors. Police call back to base station and when safe to do so the car is turned off and doors locked.

Richard

Matt

I'm interested to see the difference in the responses your thread got on this bbs and the evo forum.....

For the record I do not want police letting criminal sc*m getting away with their offence just because they won't slow down

DJ

[This message has been edited by DocJock (edited 10 March 2001).]

NEVR - what next you want the fire service and ambulance service to stick to the speed limits.
Why knock the police only.

I think the difference you miss is that having Fire or Ambulance behind you does NOT make you drive dangerously - it makes you pull over safely!!

DocJock - I cant remember anyone here saying, 'let them get away with it' - just DONT chase them .... stay at a safe distance - the kids LOVE the police chase and can cause death (yes you MAY get your car back, smashed to bits, but at the cost of how many lives??)

So? an interseting question is how many lives is the return of a smashed up Scoobie worth??? I KNOW we love our cars but come on!!

pete