WIREDGOV

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that a police vehicle did not pursue a man on a Yamaha scooter prior to a fatal collision in Droitwich in April last year, and that the police officer driving had acted in accordance with policies.

At around 4 pm on 27 April 2020, Marlon Vella, 21, was travelling ahead in the same direction on Primsland Way as a marked West Mercia Police vehicle, which was responding to an emergency call about a domestic abuse incident in Worcester.

Mr Vella’s scooter collided with a tree. The police car stopped, and an ambulance was called but sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following a referral from West Mercia Police, the IOPC carried out an independent investigation into the actions of the police officer driving. Investigators analysed CCTV evidence, police logs and radio communications, considered accounts from a number of eyewitnesses, and examined the collision investigation report and relevant policies on police driving.

The investigation determined that the officer was a significant distance behind the motor scooter, and that Mr Vella would have been out of the officer’s view when the collision took place. Likewise, Mr Vella would not have been able to see the police vehicle at the time of the collision. The appropriately trained police officer had shortly before advised the control room that he would not pursue the scooter making off from him, as he was allocated to the emergency domestic incident.

IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell, recently said:

“I again send my condolences to Mr Vella’s family and friends for their tragic loss. Owing to the proximity of the police car at the time Mr Vella’s scooter crashed, it was appropriate that we investigated the full circumstances. Our investigation found that the police officer driving had acted in accordance with police training, and roads policing procedures. The domestic abuse incident requiring an emergency response had been correctly graded by West Mercia Police.”

Following the conclusion of the IOPC investigation in March this year, we shared our findings with Mr Vella’s family, the Coroner, and West Mercia Police.

An inquest held in Redditch recently (Tuesday) recorded cause of death as a road traffic collision.

The IOPC investigates the most serious road traffic incidents involving death and serious injury where police vehicles are being driven in the proximity and for example on emergency response. Our investigations play a key role in securing public confidence in the police service by establishing what happened, ensuring individual accountability, and identifying any potential learning for individual forces or nationally.