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IPCC: Police drivers 'taking too many risks'
By Richard Holt
Last Updated: 12:50pm BST 18/09/2007

Police drivers are taking "unnecessary risks" in high-speed chases, the police watchdog has said in the wake of a crash which killed five people.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report says some officers are failing to follow pursuit guidelines and may even be unaware of them.

The report comes the day after an incident on the M4 at Newport where a car being pursued by police drove the wrong way down the motorway and collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Three of the four men in the car being pursued were killed, along with a retired couple in the vehicle they hit.

An 18-year-old man remains critically ill in hospital.

The IPCC is undertaking a separate investigation into the M4 incident, which is not related to today's report.

The report uncovered evidence that some drivers misled senior officers by claiming they were not in a pursuit when inspectors later found they were.

Examples of vehicles such as 4x4s and vans being used in chases were also uncovered by the IPCC.

They are not considered appropriate for chases due to their limited handling characteristics.

Officials examined 275 incidents which took place between April 2004 and September 2006 which led to 115 deaths and 273 injuries.

The report recommended that black box data recorders like those used in aircraft should be fitted to all police vehicles.

It also stated that police should not pursue suspects on motorcycles unless they believe that a serious crime has been committed.