Police watchdog to investigate crash that killed three
FORCE REFERS ITSELF TO THE IOPC
THE Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that it is investigating the A63 horror crash that claimed the lives of three people and left another in a critical condition.
Humberside Police have referred themselves to the independent police standards organisation following witness reports of a police presence in the area shortly before the collision.
The collision happened at about 10pm on Monday night near the Melton and North Ferriby junction, killing three people, including Elloughton mum Alison Clark.
Humberside Police have confirmed that there was an active police operation in the area shortly before the fatal collision.
Two men and a woman were pronounced dead at the scene on Monday and another male was admitted to hospital with lifethreatening injuries after a white BMW collided with a grey Peugeot 3008.
Witnesses described a police presence in the area near to Melton industrial estate, not far from the collision shortly before the fatal incident.
Others claimed to have seen a vehicle matching the description of the white BMW heading away from Hull ignoring traffic signals earlier the same night.
There are a number of categories of incident after which, by law, a police force must refer themselves to the IOPC to conduct an investigation.
This includes: “If someone had direct or indirect contact with the police when, or shortly before, they were seriously injured or died.
“However, forces only need to refer cases where the contact may have caused or contributed to the death or injury.”
Humberside Police told the BBC that it had referred itself to the IOPC due to an active police operation in the area before the collision.
A police spokesperson said it was “standard procedure for us to engage with the IOPC after an incident of this nature”.
When the IOPC receive a referral from a police force its assessment unit reviews the information provided and they decide whether the matter requires an investigation, and the type of investigation.
There are three different types of investigation:
■ Independent – IOPC investigates the matter using its own investigators.
■ Directed – IOPC directs and controls the investigation using police resources.
■ Local – the police force PSD investigates, with no involvement from the IOPC.
The IOPC said: “At the start of every investigation, we will outline which parts of the incident or event we will investigate. This is called our ‘terms of reference.’
“Our investigators then gather evidence to establish all the circumstances of what’s happened. This may involve:
■ Taking witness statements.
■ Interviewing police officers or members of police staff.
■ Analysing footage from CCTV or cameras worn by police officers (body-worn video).
■ Obtaining other documents and records, such as telephone records.
■ Reviewing policies that are relevant to what has happened.
“Our investigations may also need forensic analysis and independent advice from experts.”
At the end of any IOPC investigation a report is published outlining the findings and any actions taken as a result of the investigation (including disciplinary).
These findings are presented to the police force being investigated and the families of the deceased in the case of deaths either directly or indirectly caused by police action, or those that may have been injured.