Senior police figures have condemned Scotland Yard’s new hardline tactics against thieves on mopeds as “dangerous driving” that risks leaving officers vulnerable to prosecution.
On Friday the Metropolitan Police revealed a range of tactics introduced last year for use against criminals on scooters, which include ramming suspects to knock them off their bikes, even if they are not wearing helmets.
The Police Federation said that although it broadly supported the Met’s tough tactics, the measures “breach current legislation”. Its officials will meet policing minister Nick Hurd this week to discuss better protection for pursuit officers.
The announcement was made just hours before a parliamentary bill calling for increased protections for police drivers from civil liability or criminal prosecution ran out of debating time in the House of Commons.
Tim Rogers of the Police Federation of England and Wales said: “We need to reinforce the fact that the tactics used, necessary as they are and supported by senior police leaders, are in fact in breach of current legislation. Judged against the common standard, as police officers are, it is dangerous to drive a car deliberately at another road user. The law clearly classifies this as dangerous driving, and officers could be prosecuted. No defence, no exemption.”
The federation’s national chair, John Apter, said that despite Friday’s bill stalling, he had been reassured that attitudes at ministerial level to improving protection for police drivers were positive. “They recognise that something has to be done,” he said. “I have a meeting with the policing minister Nick Hurd next week and this issue will be on the agenda.”
Under current law, officers deploying the tactics run the risk of being charged for dangerous or careless driving because the common standard of “careful and competent driver” applies equally to the emergency services and members of the public who are not trained in advanced driving techniques and police tactics.
The Met said there had been a 36% reduction in thefts involving mopeds since the tactics were adopted.
