WIREDGOV

The actions of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers during a high-speed pursuit in Bury were necessary and proportionate, an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation has found.

Lewis Rigby drove a stolen Honda Civic at speeds of more than 100mph, as he was being pursued by a marked police vehicle, before colliding with a Ford Fiesta on Bolton Road West, Holcombe Brook on 31 May 2016. The female driver of the Ford suffered serious injuries. Rigby, 23, was jailed in July last year for four offences, including dangerous driving.

The IPCC investigator examined a large amount of evidence including extensive in-car video footage from the police vehicle, and audio recordings of the two police constables (PCs) in the police vehicle, control room staff and an officer close to the scene. This evidence was also independently reviewed by the head of the Driver Training Unit at Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

All officers indentified as part of this investigation were treated as witnesses throughout.

In the IPCC investigator’s opinion:

• The decision to pursue was in line with the officers’ duties and responsibilities.
• The police vehicle kept a safe distance from the Honda throughout the pursuit.
• The police officers considered terminating the pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle when it accelerated up to 84mph shortly before the collision.
• The police officers and staff involved in the pursuit adequately considered the risks, and the decision to pursue was necessary and proportionate.

The IPCC final report can be found here:  https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/investigations/bury-pursuit-incident-greater-manchester-police

IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said: “Firstly, my thoughts and best wishes are with the woman seriously injured as a result of Lewis Rigby’s actions, and who I understand is continuing to recover from the incident.

“It is vital, when such serious incidents occur, that the actions of police officers are examined and held to account. This was a thorough investigation; it analysed, in detail, the decision-making by all those involved. As such, the investigator found officers and control room staff at GMP that day acted responsibly, and carefully considered the necessity for the pursuit throughout.”