This incident occured last May
The initial reports suggest that the officer was chasing a stolen car. I had a bit of a problem believing that given the group this girl was with had crossed the road before the collision. One thing which struck me was the comment from one of the group that he though Hayley was behind him. I think she had perhaps stopped, turned as young girls do, to blow a kiss up the the boyfriend watching from his window. It was thus hardly surprising that he went out of mind with raw emotion und had to be tasered to bring to control. (This incident sparked angry mini-riots at the time in this area of Newcastle.)
I was originally "tea und sympathy" for the police officer as the first reports suggest he was chasing a stolen car. Now more details emerge in course of the hearing - und we now see why he was charged with a very serious charge indeed.
Again the police officer appears to claim "police business... exemption" as excuse. But this ist arrogance: it sort of implies that the officer believes himself to be above the law or can kill und "get away with it".
NO
The public at large deserve better than that from their police officers. We need to know that if we are ever on the receiving end of their grossly unprofessional errors of judgement - we und our families get some justice for our lives here.
. But this exemption only applies to "breaking the Road Traffic Act" when a genuine emergency und it still means a duty of care to the public. It does not mean they can kill someone und never be held to account for this. To claim otherwise would imply that there would be one rule for them und another for everyone else.
It would also mean that their hapless victims receive even lesser justice than if mown down by the unlicenced chav in the first place.
I have neither respect nor time nor patience for the police officer who thinks he ist above the law und untouchable in this way.
It ist not ANTI-POLICE nor anti-establishment to hold this opinion by the way. It ist an opinion held by most decently minded in this country: that all are equal under the same laws.
I highlight the items in the Mail's take (chosen for its spectacular journalese
)
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/769 ... lling-girl http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7977136.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7977136.stmhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/01/news-brief http://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/ ... 5131088.jp http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... alarm.htmlTake your pick of any of the above links. They all report the same FACTS as heard in the court.
Waily wrote:
94mph policeman 'killed girl, 16, as he drove without siren' on a call that was false alarm
By Paul Sims
Last updated at 10:57 AM on 01st April 2009
Add to My Stories
Hayley Adamson, 16, died after being hit by a police car chasing what its driver thought was a stolen vehicle at more than 90mph
A teenager was killed by a police car travelling at up to 94mph in a residential area without siren or lights, a court was told yesterday.
Hayley Adamson, 16, was catapulted into the air by the high-powered patrol car after she stepped into the road. She could be seen pausing before trying to dodge the Volvo driven by John Dougal.
The constable braked and swerved but was unable to avoid the youngster who died instantly.
Dougal, 41, had been using his dipped headlights but deployed none of his warning devices in his pursuit of a vehicle wrongly identified as suspicious.
His was a 'grossly disproportionate' response to the situation and had caused Hayley's death, jurors were told.
They sat silently as the final moments before the crash were played. Andrew Dallas, prosecuting, said: 'Hayley was struck a heavy blow. She was struck by the car just off-side centre.
'Hayley received multiple injuries in the impact and was declared dead at the scene.'
Later, analysis of the speedometer revealed that Dougal reached 94mph in the moments before the tragedy last May on Denton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Northumbria Police officer, who denies causing death by dangerous driving, was on patrol in the city's suburbs when an onboard computer alerted him to a suspect Renault Megane, which had passed by at 30mph.
He instantly gave chase.
Hayley, who was on a night out with friends, had just stepped into the road and was hit by the police car going at around 70mph, according to experts.
To catch a car at 30 mph?? allegedly
Quote:
PC John Dougal is accused of causing the death by dangerous driving of Hayley last May, on the eve of her GCSE English exam
Mr Dallas told the court: 'During this piece of driving he had available to him but elected not to use his siren, his flashing blue lights and his flashing full beam headlights - all of which were available to him at the touch of a button.'
The Megane turned out to be that of a Czech family returning from a trip to the shops.
'The driver was driving in a perfectly normal way which would not incite any suspicion in itself,' added Mr Dallas.
'In particular, there was nothing that would suggest he was trying or even thinking about trying to evade the police car
'The defendant could easily have closed with him without travelling at anything like the speeds he chose.'
Dougal admitted he had not used his 'blues and twos' - lights and sirens - and claimed he did so so as not to cause the 'suspect' Megane to race off.
But Mr Dallas said: 'This on any view was dangerous driving, whether undertaken by a civilian, a police officer or anyone else.
'To do so without use of warning lights severely compounds the danger he represented and the dangerousness of his driving.
'Officers are expected to adopt a proportionate, measured response to the events they face.'
Mr Dallas told the jury at Newcastle Crown Court that although the internal computer had highlighted the Megane as a suspicious car it did not mean it was a high priority.
The vast majority of vehicles, he said, are flagged up for having no tax disc, no insurance, or failure to register the keeper.
The court heard that Hayley had some alcohol in her blood stream at the time of the incident which may or may not have affected her decision-making.
But Mr Dallas said it was also notoriously difficult to judge the approach speed of a fast vehicle, especially at night.
The trial continues.
I note they try to make out the girl was drunk though. Am parent of teenagers as well as babies. I do know what they can get up to.. but all the same... she was wearing white clothing. He must have seen the other people crossing ahead. He did not need to drive at that speed.
Seems a strong case ist being presented. Defence has yet to be heard of course
My stance of "what a fool" would be the same if this had been a member of public who blatted und killed at such an OTT speed - an unsafe speed for the conditions/situation by the way. It just happens to be a police incident.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Members
Newcastle Crown Court has heard. 
well that they have to check such alarm bells out. But surely a true professional can do this without the "red mist"... 
.. But then we have had the tabloid's frenzied headlines of the crushed cars.. of the family made to walk up a slip road on a bitterly cold March day.. in the past. All as result of failure to keep the database updated. Police need this information to be accurate. Public need it to be accurate. If they cannot do this .. then how can we accept ID cards or any other gimmick??
. 
to them for doing so.