Police chase rules reviewed amid rise in moped crime

LAWS around police pursuits are to be reviewed amid fears that officers are unable to effectively pursue and apprehend moped-riding criminals.

The Home Office will review the law after leading officials warned that police officers fear being taken to court for high-speed chases because they can be prosecuted for careless driving. It follows a huge surge in the number of crimes committed on mopeds in recent months, with the Metropolitan Police recording 16,158 thefts in the 12 months to June – three times the number reported during the same period last year.

The trend has been most pronounced in London, where members of the public have been slashed with knives and weapons by armed muggers. The rise in moped-related thefts has also been linked with a spate of acid attacks carried out in the capital, including a string of five attacks in less than 90 minutes earlier this summer.

Despite the growing spectre of moped crime, police officers say they fear legal action, because the current law allows them to be prosecuted in the same way as ordinary motorists. And even when they escape prosecution, officers can still be investigated for gross misconduct.

Nick Hurd, the policing minister, said: “While it is clearly vital that we protect public safety and that officers are accountable for their actions, it is also important that skilled officers have the confidence to protect the public by pursuing offenders where it is safe to do so.” Under existing laws, all emergency services are exempt from speed limit, traffic light and sign violations when undertaking an emergency service response. However, they remain subject to the general road traffic laws in the same way as members of the public, including the law on careless and dangerous driving.