June 6, 2013 Questions over police chase crashes Police chase crashes investigated: A study shows innocent passengers and bystanders account for about a third of pursuit-related deaths. NSW police are engaging in more than double the number of car chases than their Victorian counterparts, according to a national study that shows innocent passengers and bystanders account for about a third of related deaths. The findings, from a study of pursuit-related deaths in 2000-11 by the Australian Institute of Criminology, have prompted claims by the Greens that NSW police are 'grossly over-represented'. The study found that of the 185 fatal pursuit-related crashes and 218 resulting deaths half were of alleged offenders driving the car being pursued and 12 per cent were alleged offenders who were passengers. Seventeen per cent were innocent passengers in the vehicle being chased and 21 per cent were innocent bystanders or road users, of which 13 per cent were police involved in pursuits. Advertisement In NSW in 2011, police engaged in 1781 motor vehicle pursuits. The next closest was Victoria, where police undertook 721 chases. By comparison, there are about 4.9 million vehicles registered in NSW and 4.3 million in Victoria. However, the number of pursuits has fallen from 2227 in 2004 in NSW, which also recorded a pursuit fatality rate half the national average. Separate figures obtained by the Greens reveal that in NSW in 2012-13, about 75 per cent of chases have been a result of traffic matters or failure to stop for a random breath test. Greens MP David Shoebridge said Police Minister Mike Gallacher needed to 'account for why NSW police were escalating traffic offences to high speed chases - increasing the risk of serious injury or death'. A police spokesman said NSW police 'adhere to strict protocols when engaging in pursuits to ensure the safety of the public.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:50:16 +0000
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