WIREDGOV

An investigation into a road collision in Staffordshire in which a man died concluded that a pursuit by West Mercia Police which preceded it was carried out appropriately and in accordance with force policies.

Liam Sidhu, 21, died when the Vauxhall Corsa he was driving struck an oncoming Honda Civic at around 9.50 pm on 24 July 2016 on the A53 near Baldwin’s Gate, Staffordshire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers in the Corsa and the Honda driver were injured.

The Corsa was being pursued by a marked BMW X5 West Mercia Police vehicle at the time of the collision.

Our investigation found that there was justification for the pursuit being initiated and that proper authorisation was being sought from the police control room Inspector. The pursuit was carried out by a suitably trained, advanced police driver, and the emergency lights and siren were activated.

The Corsa was being driven in excess of 70 mph at one stage, and the manner of driving with headlights turned off indicated no intention to stop for police. In the investigator’s opinion there was no evidence to suggest the police were responsible for causing the Corsa to crash.

In the course of the investigation we examined police airwave transmissions, witness statements from relevant officers, an expert collision report, and relevant CCTV evidence.

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “My thoughts are with Mr Sidhu’s family and everyone else affected by his death. In the investigator’s view the decisions and actions of the two officers in the police vehicle were appropriate, and the pursuit adhered to force and national policies.

“At the time of the collision itself, there was a significant gap between the police vehicle and the Corsa. All police officers and staff were treated as witnesses during the course of our inquiries.”

An inquest which concluded at Hanley Town Hall on Wednesday returned a finding that death was caused by a road traffic collision.

Police were seeking the Corsa in response to reports of the vehicle being involved in criminal activity in Audlem, Cheshire and Adderley, Shropshire earlier that evening.