Scotland Yard had been reviewing its vehicle pursuit policy before the deaths this week of a child and his aunt hit by a car that was being chased by police, it has emerged.
Makayah McDermott, 10, and Rosie Cooper, 34, were declared dead after being knocked down by a suspected stolen vehicle as the driver mounted a pavement in Penge, south-east London, on Wednesday afternoon.
The Metropolitan police pursuit policy was placed under review following an inquest into the death of Henry Hicks, a teenager who died when his moped crashed as he was chased by police in unmarked cars.
In England and Wales there were 21 fatalities in 20 police-related road traffic incidents from 2015 to 2016, up from 14 the previous year. However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said that was the fourth lowest figure since 2004-05. Within these figures, 13 deaths were pursuit-related in 2015-16, compared to seven the previous year.
The Met’s directorate of professional standards has been informed of the incident on Wednesday, as has the IPCC, which will investigate independently.
On Thursday the Met confirmed to the Guardian that its review of its vehicle pursuit policy had concluded but did not reveal its findings.
Henry Hicks, an 18-year-old carpenter from Islington, died on 19 December 2014 when he lost control of his vehicle in Wheelwright Street, north London, following a high-speed chase. In June, an inquest jury rejected the police claim that the teenager was not aware he was being pursued, and concluded he had died trying to get away from officers in unmarked cars. After the inquest, Catherine Roper, chief superintendent and the borough commander for Islington, said the verdict had prompted a further review of pursuit policy. “Our pursuit policy, which is based on national guidance, is kept under constant review. In light of today’s narrative delivered by the jury and any recommendations made by the coroner in her report, and the IPCC, we will once again review that policy,” she said.
Tributes were paid to Makayah and Cooper on Thursday, as three girls, two believed to be Makayah’s older sisters and one thought to be Cooper’s daughter, were treated in hospital for injuries that were reported as being not life threatening.
Makayah and his two siblings attended the Pop School and Stage Academy in Beckenham. Makayah starred in a Wizard of Oz spin-off called The Wiz last month, with his two sisters also taking part. He had reportedly auditioned last week for a part in a television series set in the 1950s.
Makayah’s agent, Sam Brown, managing director of Brown and Mills Entertainment, said she had signed him up in June. She described his family as “a very, very talented bunch”, adding: “He was a real bright character, ever so outgoing, and he just picked up scripts and could just go with it, you know, a natural talent. It’s a hard industry but I really believed in him.”
Brown said Makayah had charisma and took everything in his stride. “Very happy, very smiley, helpful. He was a good lad.” She said he had been going to castings. “We’re all in shock.”
He was described as “an incredible child” by Lisa Pitman, of Virtue TaeKwon-Do (a martial arts school), with whom he had trained for several years. Pitman said: “We are in shock and gutted, such an incredible child, we have been teaching him since the age of four. This is the most tragic freak accident … the family are beautiful, incredible caring, people. They will be indescribably devastated, just as we are.”
On Thursday roses and a card addressed to “Rosie’s family” lay on Cooper’s doorstep in Beckenham. Her neighbour, Jackie Francis, paid tribute to Cooper, a hairdresser, saying she often saw her with her nieces and nephews. “We were neighbourly. She was a really nice girl. We would say hello as she came and went. I just couldn’t believe it when I heard. She was a typical young mother, always with the children, she was very fond of her children. It’s just horrible. They were a close family, undoubtedly close.”
Cordons around the crash site were removed, although police officers remained yesterday, allowing mourners to leave floral tributes at the base of a tree nearby. One note read: “There are some who bring a light so bright to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.”
On Wednesday police arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He remains in custody and police are appealing for witnesses.
Venissa Vassell, 18, heard sirens and a car screeching as she walked from a nearby railway station and said she immediately ran to help. She said there were twin girls trapped under the car, a black Ford Focus, and about 20 people came to lift the car up to free them. The girls crawled out, but another girl, who was later taken away by ambulance, was screaming “I can’t feel my legs”, she said.
A man living near the crash site said a black car, believed to be a Ford Focus, was being chased by two police BMWs when the driver tried to turn into Lennard Road. “He lost control and ploughed into a family walking on the pavement down Lennard Road. People were trying to lift a car off a little girl. The police officers that were chasing were distraught,” the man said. “It was a horrific scene on a sunny afternoon in a sleepy place.”
The Met said postmortem examinations were due to take place Thursday at Princess Royal university hospital.
