Bay of Plenty police are moving to change the public perception of police pursuits, by re-branding them as ‘fleeing driver situations'.
The crashed vehicle following the ‘fleeing driver situation' in the Western Bay of Plenty last Friday.
The move follows criticism targeted at police after the fatal car smash involving 25 year old Michael Adam Kaui Keepa and 21 year old Harley Kendrick Sean Wilson. They died from a crash in Te Puke last Friday morning after police pursued them from Mount Maunganui.
Head of Bay of Plenty road policing, Inspector Kevin Taylor, says police refer to a pursuit as a ‘fleeing driver situation' because it is the driver who flees, not the police.
'The pursuit is the tactic to apprehend a fleeing driver.”
'It is therefore helpful to ensure that the way these situations are referred to matches the situation correctly.”
Kevin says the procedures of a police pursuit are very clear – if a driver is requested to stop by police, and fails to do so, they become a fleeing driver.
Figures supplied by Bay of Plenty police show there were 126 police pursuits in the region since the beginning of the year.
Last week's incident in Te Puke was the first fatal one in that period.
'Police are in a difficult position when it comes to a fleeing offender, or a driver who fails to stop, but the important question that needs to be considered is why that individual feels the need to avoid speaking to police.”
'Ultimately, responsibility lies with the offending drivers to stop when requested to do so. Police have no intention of handing the roads over to those who think they are above the law.”
When an officer engages in a pursuit, they have no maximum speed limit but are required to carry out a risk assessment at all times.
The risk factors are relayed to the Police Communications Centre, which also conducts a risk assessment and has independent oversight of the incident.
Instances where officers do not adhere to the police pursuit procedures are handled on a case by case basis, says Kevin.
'There is an internal review of every fleeing driver situation that results in a crash.”
7 comments
Good move
Posted on 13-10-2010 10:45 | By Writerman
This is a good move by police. Just in the same way we should always refer to road crashes (because few if any are actual accidents - rather the result of someone's deliberate or careless actions)Fleeing driver, although a somewhat cumbersome description, is a far more accurate picture of what is really happening. We must never forget it is the person fleeing that causes these outcomes not the police. I suspect those who criticised the police in this latest case did so more out of a sense of their own guilt for how their family members were brought up with such a disregard for society's rules or other people's welfare.
Fleeing Driver situation
Posted on 13-10-2010 11:18 | By tia
This is a real PC move which the Police must be commended for. However, If you pain a horse with black and white stripes it is still a horse not a Zebra. So what ever name is given to Police apprehending a fleeing driver the situation is the same, "a pursuit". Abide by the law and the Poice won't be placed in a situation they have to defend. Quite simple.
Totally Agree
Posted on 13-10-2010 12:57 | By bryceh
with tia on this one! Changing the title does not change the book! It is still a pursuit no matter what it is called. However Police would not need to pursue if people did not run.
FDs for short
Posted on 13-10-2010 13:39 | By bob
I wonder what other alternative Acronym's the readers could come up with .. I feel a competition coming on, First prize a ride in a Police car?
Awesome!
Posted on 13-10-2010 14:08 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
OK, so now you understand the concept you should now understand why governments change the word THEFT to TAX - same reason
Here's another good one:
Posted on 13-10-2010 23:35 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Here's another good one: Changing the word THEFT to "Unbundling the Loop" (ask Telecom about that one) This is one of the things they are actually GOOD at doing. Changing the word to make the actual act sound not so bad
Necessary change
Posted on 14-10-2010 08:52 | By RawPrawn
Have to agree with the Police and others supporting this one. Apprehending lawbreakers is fundamental to policing and by engaging in a pursuit the Officers are merely following their sworn duty by trying to catch those offenders who 'run away' because they don't want to face the music (which, incidentally, is a breach in its own right). In fleeing, the crims are totally responsible for any harm that befalls them or any one else, and the new term more closely reflects this.
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