Officer suspended from driving after car hit boy
A Greater Manchester Police officer has been suspended from driving after a boy was knocked down by a police car and left fighting for his life.
The 15-year-old was hit by the vehicle on Boxing Day as officers were responding to reports of a domestic disturbance.
The accident happened at 9.30pm on Garners Lane in Stockport.
The boy was taken to hospital with a serious head injury, where on Wednesday his condition was described as critical but stable.
In a statement GMP said: “The driver of the police vehicle has been suspended from driving police vehicles pending the investigation outcomes. This is in line with the driver standards policy.”
The incident has been referred to both GMP’s internal watchdog and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
In a statement released, an IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have begun an investigation into a road traffic incident at around 9.30pm on December 26 in Garners Lane, Stockport, involving a police car and a 15-year-old male.
“After being notified by Greater Manchester Police we sent investigators to the scene and the police post-incident procedure to begin our enquiries and to start gathering evidence.
“Our thoughts are with the family and anyone else affected by this incident.”
On Sunday police confirmed they were responding to a grade one domestic disturbance, which requires an immediate response, at the time of the collision.
Speaking on Sunday Supt Marcus
Noden, GMP’s divisional commander for Stockport, said: “This is a terribly sad incident and our thoughts are with the young boy and his loved ones, who are being offered support by our specially-trained officers during this distressing time.
“This is an incident police officers wish to never occur, and support is
also being offered to the officers involved in last night’s events.
“It is important that a thorough and independent investigation now takes place, and the IOPC will be leading with their enquiries into this incident; therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”