Pursuit policy updated

A NEW police policy to rein in ‘‘brazen’’ fleeing drivers has come into effect just days after a Dunedin man died in a crash in a car that had sped away from police.

Police inquiries are continuing after a group of men allegedly burgled a BottleO, in Caversham, early on Saturday — and after they were seen by police, sped away only to smash into a power pole less than a minute later.

One of the five occupants of the car died at the scene and two were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Commissioner Andrew Coster said the police’s updated fleeing driver policy, which came into effect yesterday, balanced public safety with the ability to hold offenders to account.

The policy, announced late last year, contained the new ‘‘fleeing driver framework’’, which would help police decide if the safety risk justified a pursuit or not.

The policy factored in the threat posed by the driver, or occupants of the vehicle, as well as the seriousness of the offence suspected to have been committed, and the risk of the fleeing suspects to commit further harm.

‘‘The clarity our staff will obtain from the refreshed policy enables police to address these trends when drivers refuse to pull over when instructed, while acknowledging that risk and safety of all involved must always come first,’’ Comm Coster said.

The police pursuit policy became more conservative in 2020 after a string of highprofile deaths.

Comm Coster said yesterday subsequent feedback from staff and communities called for ‘‘a different balance’’.

After the previous policy came into effect in December 2020 ‘‘offenders have become more brazen and are taking more risks in their driving behaviour’’.

He said before 2020, police pursued about 70% of drivers who fled, and when the policy changed that had halved.

Police had since been able to demonstrate that when police were less likely to pursue drivers, suspects were actually more likely to flee.

‘‘And there’s risk inherent in that whether or not police are behind them at the time.’’

Several highprofile fleeing driver incidents have been reported in the Otago Daily

recently.

Last August, a Dunedin man led police on a brief chase through busy suburban streets with a 4yearold boy in the back seat.

Due to the dangerous nature of his driving, police abandoned their chase.

He was arrested after the car was found and members of the public witnessed the driver leaving the car with a child and dog.

In April, a group of teenagers was arrested after fleeing Dunedin police in a stolen car which was brought to a halt using road spikes.

After the car failed to stop, police spiked the vehicle in Forbury Rd. It travelled as far as Midland St before eventually coming to a stop following a minor crash.

In the same weekend, a 17yearold learner driver led police on a short pursuit that reached speeds of up to 188kmh on Dunedin’s Southern Motorway.

Police tried to stop the vehicle but the driver fled and police did not follow.

The vehicle and driver were located later in the day.

Earlier this month, a carload of Invercargill teens were tracked by police across coastal Otago in a stolen car after allegedly robbing a Waitati dairy.

When officers located the vehicle at a property just north of Waikouaiti, it was swarmed by police.

In this most recent case, in Dunedin, it was not clear whether police were in pursuit when the car crashed, killing an occupant.

Police have referred the matter to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

Three men appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday in relation to the incident, facing burglary charges.

One person remained in hospital.

Police had nothing to say about the incident in relation to the updated fleeing driver policy yesterday, a spokeswoman said.

❛ And there’s risk inherent in that [fleeing] whether or not police are behind them at the time

A LONGSERVING Greymouth police officer has been convicted of dangerous driving after clocking speeds of 214kmh during a police chase involving two teenagers who were not old enough to drive.

Sergeant David Bruce Cross (60) first appeared for sentencing in the Greymouth District Court on April 7, where he had sought a discharge without conviction.

Cross’ lawyer Michael Vesty said at the time Cross hoped to continue his 30year police career and a conviction could be careerlimiting.

Cross had been driving a marked patrol car on July 3 last year and had a probationary officer as a passenger.

In a victim impact statement, the officer described being scared and fearful for herself and the two young people they were pursuing, from Greymouth to Ross.

She had children the same age and had since undergone counselling for that fact alone.

It was lucky noone had been killed or injured as a result of the high speeds, she said.

According to the summary of facts, about 1.38am Cross passed a vehicle travelling slower than usual at 65kmh on State Highway 6, south of Greymouth.

He did a Uturn and, while trying to catch up to the vehicle, accelerated up to a speed of 214kmh without the use of blue and red flashing lights.

When Cross caught up to the vehicle, he activated the patrol car lights and used the police radar to record the car’s speeds at up to 188kmh.

The driver made no attempt to stop and continued south.

As both vehicles approached the Arahura Bridge, Cross manoeuvred the patrol car to straddle the centreline.

He was travelling about

130kmh at the time.

The pursuit continued south of Hokitika, still travelling at speeds of 130kmh while using the police radio, radar, lights and sirens.

Cross called the police communications centre and was instructed to abandon the pursuit, but while he slowed down and turned off his lights and sirens, he continued following the car, which was weaving and crossing over the centre line.

Just before Ross, Cross used bright ‘‘take down’’ lights to slow down the car significantly by reducing visibility. When eventually stopped at Ross, neither of the occupants was found to be old enough to drive and both were arrested.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said in court yesterday the inexperience of the two teenagers behind the wheel heightened the risks considerably.

Cross’ passenger said the speeds were ‘‘unacceptable’’ and there were so many ‘‘what ifs’’ on the night — it was only by luck that none of them eventuated.

The highspeed chase lasted 22 minutes, and Cross did not stop even when told to by police communications.

‘‘He made an error of judgement in deciding to pursue a fleeing vehicle in circumstances where he was again trying to do the best for his community but unfortunately, he put the community at risk in driving in the manner that he did,’’ the judge said.

Cross was convicted and disqualified from driving for six months. —