Police pursuit-related deaths

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027169

I note you seek access to the following information:

Why do police pursuit-related deaths continue to occur on the roads of England and Wales, despite the publication of Authorised Professional Practice (APP)?

Death statistics are readily available via the IOPC. However, I am unable to find any public-facing sources, which reveal the annual number of recorded pursuits, within each force area.

Therefore, I would like to request the following information:

1. How many pursuits were recorded by your force during each financial year, from 2004/05 to 2020/21?

2. What method was used to record pursuits throughout the identified time period? I.e., was an electronic form used, or were the pursuits recorded on paper?

3. Did the method of recording pursuits change, throughout the identified time period? If so, how and when?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Why do police pursuit-related deaths continue to occur on the roads of England and Wales, despite the publication of Authorised Professional Practice (APP)?

Sadly some of those involved in criminality will drive in a dangerous and reckless manner, on our roads. Police have a duty to uphold the law, keep the kings peace, and bring offender to justice. Accordingly it is sometimes necessary for police to become involved in a pursuit to tackle this dangerous behaviour, or apprehend those involved in criminality. The MPS recognise that pursuits of any kind present an increased risk to all involved and as such clear decision making protocols are in place to ensure that when a pursuit is authorised it is done so only when necessary and justifiable; and is proportionate to the risk apparent at that time. To understand and ensure we constantly review our practices each death or serious injury as a result of a police pursuit is referred to and, where appropriate, investigated by the IOPC. Where a death occurs the circumstances are heard in a coroners court, giving an additional layer of oversight. Where appropriate any learning is shared.

The Pursuit APP is a collection of existing knowledge and guidance consolidated into an accessible format. The APP seeks to reduce the volume of content for a specific topic and give users instant access to authorised knowledge to ensure a consistent and compatible approach across police forces. The aim of this is to ensure consistency and reduce the risks from pursuits, whilst recognising that sadly, at this time, pursuits are not an activity free of risk entirely.

Death statistics are readily available via the IOPC. However, I am unable to find any public-facing sources, which reveal the annual number of recorded pursuits, within each force area.

There is a nationally held database that records pursuit activity across the country. The database is managed by West Midlands Police.

Q1 - How many pursuits were recorded by your force during each financial year, from 2004/05 to 2020/21?

Unfortunately we can only provide data from 2019 onwards as, although pursuits were recorded prior to then, they were done so in a format that we are unable to analyse for specific information.

12/02/2019 – 11/02/2020 – 1257 recorded pursuits
12/02/2020 – 11/02/2021 – 1971 recorded pursuits
12/02/2021 – 11/02/2022 – 1228 recorded pursuits

A new system of recording pursuit activity was implemented in APRIL 2022.

Q2 - What method was used to record pursuits throughout the identified time period? I.e., was an electronic form used, or were the pursuits recorded on paper?

Prior to 2019 all pursuit activity was recorded on CAD which is an electronic police incident management system. Since 2019 the MPS has used a software system owned by the NPCC to record pursuits.

Q3 - Did the method of recording pursuits change, throughout the identified time period? If so, how and when?

Yes, As above in 2019.