Bereaved families who have lost loved ones as a result of police pursuits have come together to demand an end to the dangerous practice.
A record high number of road traffic fatalities involving Greater Manchester Police (GMP), alone, took place in 2021/22.
In total, eight people lost their lives in six separate road traffic incidents, the majority of which involved pursuits by GMP officers.
The bereaved families note that IOPC investigations and coroner’s inquests have found that their loved ones died following police pursuits in which the drivers of the pursued vehicles were suspected of minor traffic violations or other nonviolent offences.
The families have prepared a petition, demanding that Parliament conduct a review into the practice, which:
investigates whether rules on police pursuits reflect their duty to protect life;
considers the prohibition of police pursuit use in response to non-violent offences and minor traffic offences;
implements mandatory camera activation;
considers what steps may be necessary to reduce casualties, especially among children.