Officers cleared in fatal pursuit case

Ten police officers have been cleared of misconduct after the body investigating a police pursuit which ended in a motor cyclist’s death changed its opinion.

Alan Long died after a 44-minute chase involving eight Greater Manchester Police vehicles and the force’s fixed wing aircraft in August, 2008.

It ended when his high-powered Yamaha motorcycle jumped a red light and collided with a car in Stalybridge.

At an inquest last month a jury returned a verdict that Mr Long, from Denton, died as a result of an accident contributed to by his actions.

It emerged he was not insured and had traces of amphetamines in his blood.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated the incident and last year found substantiated misconduct against 17 individuals.

Since then, a criminal trial of one officer, PC Ian Bruce, for dangerous driving has collapsed, and papers were prepared for Mr Long’s inquest.

As a result, the IPCC reviewed its original investigation and has now lifted the misconduct findings against ten officers. However, misconduct complaints remain against the remaining seven officers.

Unworkable
The IPCC has apologised to Mr Long’s family and offered to meet the officers who have been cleared.

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said it had become clear that the force’s authorisation for pursuits was likely to be unworkable. Ms Malik added: “I have apologised to Mr Long’s family.

“I am also apologising in writing to the individual officers who have had the misconduct against them withdrawn for the unavoidable period of time they have been under investigation.

“I have offered to meet with them individually to explain our revised decisions.

“I recognise there is also learning for the IPCC in relation to our investigation of this case and we will ensure that lessons are learned.

”One must remember that a man died in this incident and my sympathies go out to Mr Long’s family again.

“While it is clear his actions contributed to his death, this was a pursuit which was totally disproportionate and without any apparent form of control.”