WIREDGOV

An IPCC investigation into a road collision in Birmingham in which a young mother died has concluded that a police pursuit prior to it was correctly authorised and in accordance with force policies.

Sophie Ann Case, aged 21, was killed when the MG Rover she was a back seat passenger in left the road and hit two bollards and a parked van at Bartley Green early on 26 November last year (2016). A front seat passenger was injured. The driver, Liam Ellis, was jailed in December for six years and eight months after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Shortly before the collision the driver of a single-crewed, unmarked police car had seen a MG Rover going the wrong way around a roundabout. It failed to stop after the police car’s blue lights were activated and after immediately contacting the force control room the officer driving was given authorisation for a pursuit.

When interviewed by police after the crash Mr Ellis said he was unaware of the police car behind him. The MG Rover was found to have defects including mismatched rim and tyre sizes.

All officers were treated as witnesses during the IPCC’s investigation.

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “Our thoughts are with Sophie’s family and friends, and everyone else affected by this tragic incident. Liam Ellis admitted culpability for her death and subsequently lost his liberty.

“After studying in-car data and 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 wrongdoing on the part of police.”