Thirty-nine individuals died in highway visitors incidents involving police final 12 months – the best quantity since 2018-19, a watchdog has revealed.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) mentioned the variety of fatalities was “concerning” after rising from 25 deaths within the earlier 12-month interval.
The figures for 2021-22 cowl deaths of motorists, cyclists or pedestrians involving police pursuits on the roads, in addition to these ensuing when police automobiles have responded to emergency calls.
According to the IOPC, 25 of the individuals who died have been the “driver or passenger in the pursued vehicle” and three individuals have been pedestrians who have been “hit by the pursued or suspect vehicle”.
The common age of those that died as both the motive force or passenger in a pursued or fleeing automobile was 27.
IOPC director common Michael Lockwood mentioned: “It is concerning to note that this year has seen a rise in the number of fatalities from road traffic incidents, 39 deaths from 25 the previous year.
“Five incidents accounted for 12 of the deaths and a excessive proportion (85%) of the deaths have been police pursuit-related.
“In the 13 deaths where the IOPC has concluded an investigation, we found police officers acted appropriately and in accordance with their training, policies and procedures.”
The IOPC mentioned there had been 11 deaths in or following police custody in England and Wales in 2021-22 and two deadly police shootings in that interval involving the Met Police and the Thames Valley power.
The report comes after protests over the dying of 24-year-old Chris Kaba who was shot lifeless by a police officer in south London on 5 September.
The IOPC has mentioned it should “explore all of the circumstances” surrounding the dying of the unarmed black man, together with whether or not “race influenced any actions taken by the police”.
The Metropolitan Police officer concerned has been suspended.
Source: information.sky.com”