Police pursuit before fatal Leicestershire collision was carried out appropriately

20 Aug 2019 03:30 PM

Our investigation into a fatal collision at Oadby in Leicestershire concluded that a police pursuit which preceded it was carried out appropriately and in accordance with force policies.

Pedestrian Paul Radcliffe, aged 18, died in the early hours of 19 January this year (2019) when he was hit by a Mercedes driven by Jagdip Dhesi. Mr Dhesi pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Monday 12 August and was jailed for four years and eight months. 

The collision happened at 12.32am after the Mercedes made off from a marked Leicestershire Police patrol car which had attempted to stop it. The Mercedes was travelling towards the police vehicle on the wrong side of the road and being driven in a manner which one of the officers involved described as reckless.

Evidence gathered by our investigator confirmed that moments after the police car turned its lights and siren on to begin a pursuit, the Mercedes overtook another police car travelling in front of it and hit Mr Radcliffe who was crossing the road in Stoughton Drive South. The Mercedes carried on while police stopped at the scene to try to help Mr Radcliffe, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell yesterday said:

“This was a senseless and tragic death and our thoughts are with Mr Radcliffe’s family and everyone else affected. We carried out a thorough investigation which concluded that the pursuit was carried out appropriately by a trained officer, and in accordance with policy and procedure. All police officers and staff were treated as witnesses.”   

Our investigators carried out a detailed examination after attending the scene shortly after the incident. During our inquiries, completed within six months, we also took statements from the officers involved, gathered CCTV footage and radio communications, and downloaded data from the police car and the Mercedes.