‘Confusion’ led to ‘poor’ police communication
INQUEST IN CRASH DEATHS TOLD EFFORTS TO STOP BMW HAMPERED
POLICE communications during a 130mph pursuit of a stolen BMW was described as “poor” by a police driver trainer at an inquest into the deaths of four people, including mum Alison Clark.
Traffic officers were unable to relay messages to one another and to a Force Control Room due to “confusion” over radio channels.
One officer in an Armed Response Vehicle was on one radio frequency, while other officers were on a divisional radio channel, which switches to another channel when officers get to the border of the East Riding from Hull.
The inquest at The Guildhall, Hull, into the deaths of Alison Clark, 42, Lawrence James, 21, Samuel Connors, 19, and William Harty, 20, raised questions over whether there were missed opportunities to stop the stolen white BMW 140i before it went on to the wrong side of the A63 at North Ferriby at 9.48pm on November 22, 2021.
The BMW, estimated by one witness as travelling at 120mph, collided headon with a Peugeot, driven by Mrs Clark, of Elloughton. It happened in the westbound carriageway, as the BMW drove east back towards Hull, from where it had been pursued by police officers in vehicles. The three men from Leeds in the BMW and Mrs Clark, a wife and mother, died following the high speed impact.
Humberside Police driver trainer Craig Brack said the pursuit, which lasted seven minutes, had not offered opportunities to deploy a stinger to bring the getaway car to a halt and apprehend the suspects.
The men in the BMW travelled from the Leeds area to Hull to steal catalytic converters. Police found six of them following the fatal crash.
Mr Brack, outlined to the jury at the inquest what the standard procedure is for pursuits and tactical pursuit and containment and the necessity of clear messages to Force Control Room staff. He said they should have oversight of the pursuit at all times in case there are other incidents going on simultaneously.
The experienced officer explained how a stinger device operates ideally. He said only tactically trained officers should embark on pursuits. The officers in the chasing police car become the pursuit commanders and have to relay messages to their Force Control.
He gave the jury a chronology of the pursuit. He ruled out the opportunities where a stinger might have been used due to safety concerns for officers and other road users. The speed of the BMW was a factor, said Mr Brack.
“Communication during the early stages of the pursuit was poor because transmission was on two separate channels, so not all the information was shared and they (officers) would not have a full grasp of the situation at the time,” said Mr Brack.
He said “Communication was not received in the first phase by the control room. In the second phase the communication is slightly better, but they are still transmitting on two radio channels.”
The officer said: “Communication is fundamental. It is key for the pursuit.”
Assistant coroner Ian Sprakes said communication had been described as “confused” by an officer. Mr Brack said he agreed with the assessment. Two officers had discussed potential tactical measures when the BMW went down a dead end road, towards Melton Police Station.
One radio message was: “It’s a dead end. Get a stinger. F** f*** sake, where is the commentary?”
Mr Sprakes asked the officer whether the poor communication had an adverse impact on the pursuit. Mr Brack said: “Communication did not interfere with the tactical options in that short time frame. The officers were restricted due to the nature of the pursuit, the speed of the vehicle and the location of resources.”
The police expert said the poor communication had “made it more difficult to have a coordinated effort”.
Barrister for the family of Alison Clark, Matthew Bignell, said: “It is going to hamper opportunities to pursue the vehicle in a dead end.” Mr Brack replied: “Potentially.”
Mr Bignell said: “It is true there was poor communication and no tactical plan to deal with the subject vehicle. With proper communication, a tactical plan could have been in place when the vehicle was in the dead end. The BMW driver did not know where he was going because he went down a dead end.” Mr Brack said: “Yes.”
The inquest continues.