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Officer cleared after fatal police pursuit
Reporter: RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 18 November 2008
THE Independent Police Complaints Commission has cleared the officer involved in the high-speed chase which ended in a fatal smash at the weekend.
The IPCC says everything was done correctly and it does not need to undertake a full investigation.
The chief constable of GMP, Peter Fahy, said it was a tragic case but the officer did his duty and would have been criticised if he had not followed the car.
Meanwhile, the family of one of the victims has paid tribute to a gentle giant who was a lovely lad.
Christopher Morrison (23), from Middleton, died along with Paul Bunting (30) and Cassie Fox (19) when a Vauxhall Vectra crashed in Middleton Road, Chadderton, at 3.30am on Sunday.
Cassie’s friend Claire Matthews (18), a mother-of-two, remains in a critical condition at Hope Hospital, Salford. Bernice and Joe Morrison said: “Chris was a lovely lad who was well-liked. It’s a terrible waste for all of them. I hope people of that same age group don’t do anything similar and we hope something good comes out of this.”
Flowers left for Miss Fox by her mother, Sandra, read: “Please come home to me. Can’t stand it without you.”
Bump
It has been reported that Mr Bunting was a suspected drug dealer while Mr Morrison was a convicted robber. He was freed after serving half a four-year sentence for attempted robbery in 2006 after a gang beat up a security guard.
The two women had been offered a lift home from an Oldham club. As a police car pulled over the Vectra for jumping a red light, it sped off at up to 80mph. The car hit a bump in the road and spun 100 yards, before slamming into the wall and landing on its roof. Mr Fahy, who has seen a video of the incident recorded from the police car, described the pursuit and how the officer came across the devastation.
He said: “This was an awful event and I especially feel for the families of the two girls.
“The officer was faced with a split-second decision and decided to follow. As soon as drivers drive away it creates a problem and poses a risk for road-users.
“From what I have seen, I am confident the officer acted appropriately.
“I am sure the public would be concerned if officers didn’t go after vehicles. That would give people the green light to drive dangerously.”
Naseem Malik from the IPCC said: “The officer was duty-bound to pursue the vehicle and he followed all necessary procedures.
“The focus must be on the manner of driving of the Vauxhall Vectra and the terrible risks the driver took.”
Comments
This was a tragic accident but one that was waiting to happen. The number of drivers just in the Oldham area who jump red lights is astonishing. Before long an accident as a direct result of going through red lights WILL happen.King St.and Mumps roundabouts are particular examples of where this happens all the time. It's time that the traffic lights were equipped with cameras to identify those who risk the lives of other road users.
It is simple.. Stop, get dealt with for the traffic offence and you'll be on your way, or speed off and risk the consequences. Why didn't he stop ? Uninsured, disqualified, drunk, drugs in the car the list goes on, but any law abiding person stops when requested to by the Police. Obviously had something to hide. Just a shame his actions have taken the lives away of others too.
I get really angry when people call the police. For goodness sake they are only doing a job and we would be in a mess without them. The police officer wasn't driving the vectra,the police officer wasn't in control of the vectra, the police officer didn't force the driver of the vectra to speed off once he had been stopped by the police.So how anybody can blame the police is beyond me. In my eyes if you are stopped by the police that is what you do, stop that is unless you have something to hide.
This is especially for the moron called "brooky", how can he blame the police for this tragic incident?? If the vehicle had stopped when required to do so by the police, then 4 families would not be devastated at this time.Obviously the driver had something to hide?? The police driver is probably beside himself with guilt as it is without this idiot slagging the police off. My sympathies go out to the families of all involved.
would you be sayin this if it was your son mickyj1?? doubt it very much as for callin me a moron well wat can i say apart from its the polices fault my freind accidently killed a police officer on a motor bike it was proved that the skid mark on the road was police fault still he gets punished . Course police cover their backs jog on
i can't understand how any1 can blame the police officer...if you read the full article you will notice that the 'pursuit' lasted all of 2 mintutes so 'brooky' in this situation the helicopter didnt have time to response and no-one its covering their backs.
This was a very tragic incident...it proves that one bad decision can have enormous consequences...my heart goes out to all the families involved.
Have Your Say
does it matter if these two lads were criminals ? does it justify what the police have done they're always covering there backs and say no one can get away from the helicopter?? then let the helicopter do its job in a chase and keep track were these cars get to then pick em up its very sad story this worse to dig dirt up on these lads how sad are the police in that ..
By brooky @ 18/11/2008 15:14:42