Independent Police Complaints Commission
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Investigation concludes that pursuit before fatal Leicester collision was correctly authorised

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into a fatal road collision in Leicester concluded that a police pursuit prior to it was correctly authorised and in accordance with force policies.

David Anger, aged 24, and Christopher Needham, 37, died when a Peugeot they were passengers in collided with a Ford Transit pick up truck in Fosse Road South approaching midnight on 9 March last year (2016). At the wheel of the car was Guy Tomlinson who was jailed for nine years last Thursday (March 16) after previously admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Shortly before the collision a single-crewed unmarked police car had begun to pursue the Peugeot after it was seen to go through a red light on the B4114.

In the IPCC investigation report it was noted that CCTV footage appeared to show the police car arriving at the collision six seconds after it occurred, and there was no indication that Tomlinson was aware of the police vehicle travelling behind him at any point during the incident.

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “Tragically two men lost their lives and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr Anger and Mr Needham.  Hopefully the completion of our investigation and conclusion of court proceedings will have answered some of their questions.

“Guy Tomlinson has lost his liberty after admitting culpability for the deaths. After studying CCTV footage, airwave transmissions and obtaining the account of the officer involved, we concluded that the pursuit had been correctly authorised and was in accordance with force procedures. No evidence arose from our enquiries to indicate any wrongdoing on the part of police.”

Channel website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/

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