2 Police Officers Now Charged...

[choux]

...with Gross Misconduct after allegedly chasing boys on e-bike.
Breaking news so no immediate link.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12120565/Police-van-following-two-teens-minutes-fatal-crash-half-mile-away-time-cop-says.html

[bednobs]

true, but consequences *could* be the same, and it was just as 'unwise' then as it is now. It makes me sad the twokids who were involved are demonised for not having the foresight to see the consequences, when in reality most of us have done the same thing without thought to the consequences

[bednobs]

but i do agree that police following them should not be punished (unless they did something wildly inappropriate)

[QuizmasterG]

Most of us have done rather stupid and reckless things when we were young. You tend to believe you are invincible.
I have every sympathy with the families who have lost their children so young.

What would have happened if the boys on the e-bike had caused an accident to innocent passers by or say a group of youngsters standing by the road?

Surely the first question would have been "Where were the police?"
The officers were only doing what they thought was correct in the circumstances, unfortunately with a tragic outcome.

[Peter Pedant]

.Who would be a police officer today?

Starting salary: £26,682 with annual increments.

er I can think of 26 000 reasons hur hur hur
( actually said to me in 1990 give me one good reason etc)

[Peter Pedant]

rather stupid and reckless things when we were young. You tend to believe you are invincible.

yes but that doesnt not excuse the police - ter daah !

er I mean Christ you wd expect Boris' muvva to come out with comething like that to explain the present parliamentary chaos.

[Peter Pedant]

what is wrong with
you are not meant to pursue people so that they splatter themselves or other road users

christ I know this is AB but....

[retrocop]

//what is wrong with
you are not meant to pursue people so that they splatter themselves or other road users//

O Gawd. PP is now an ex police officer amongst thousands of other things. Which police college and with what police service did you learn that?

[retrocop]

Mean while you let errant kids riding recklessly potentially splatter other road users or pedestrians. The Law according to PP.

[youngmafbog]

The case was referred to the IOC and as they are obligued to investigate as part of that they must inform the officers concerned. n That is all they have done, there is no charge or even arrest.

Many incidents reported result in NFA, but hey why get in the way of a good soundbite headline?

As for these kids, tough. If you are doing something wrong then stop for plod or at least have the grace to get off the bike in this case - like people did in the past bednobs.

[dave50]

One hundred percent the boys own fault that they died. Can't expect the police to pussyfoot around in case criminals injure themselves. You reap what you sew.

[bednobs]

good point ymb, i remember bein stopped by a policewoman when i was cycling thru town in the pedestrian precinct when i was about 12. i wouldnt have dreamed of cycling off

[Peter Pedant]

Hi retro - I thought I cd winkle you out of your monk's cell....

O Gawd. PP is now an ex police officer

I know that the police should arrest criminals not kill them - I dont think you need to go froo Hendon to know that

(gloss on 1964 McNee - the Met should arrest more crims than it employs)

[youngmafbog]

//I know that the police should arrest criminals not kill them//

Are you for real?

Are you honestly suggesting Police should not chase anyone in case they get hurt?

Good God man.

[Gromit]

Have the Police said why they were pursuing them?
ABers post of criminality without explaining which laws they had broke.
eBikes are legal, wearing an helmet isn’t mandatory, the bike wasn’t stolen, don’t think the bike is capable of breaking speed limits.

[Old_Geezer]

https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/featured/cycling-and-the-law#:~:text=Rule%2068%20says%20%E2%80%9CYou%20MUST,footrests%20and%20a%20passenger%20handlebar.

"9. You can carry passengers… sometimes

Rule 68 says “You MUST NOT carry a passenger unless your cycle has been built or adapted to carry one”. Quite how the bike is “built or adapted” is not specified. A childseat is fine, as is a longtail cargo bike with footrests and a passenger handlebar. But you’re not allowed to give your mate a “backy” on a normal bike."

Never heard of the expression "backy" before today.

So, no two on a bike.

Have to say, just going by the reports I've seen, whatever the boys were being followed for, and it appears to be for a legitimate reason. Since they shook off the cops by cycling through bollards the car couldn't go through, the boys were then responsible for their own actions and the consequences of those actions. If they were distracted due to trying to get away, again they had caused themselves to be in that situation. They could have opted to stop an ask the cops what was up but they chose otherwise.

It's a sad incident in any case, but from here on the legal system will hopefully come to the right interpretation this time.

[Gromit]

// whatever the boys were being followed for, and it appears to be for a legitimate reason. Since they shook off the cops by cycling through bollards the car couldn't go through //

The police haven’t said a legitimate reason (they are not allowed to comment once an independent review is underway), so it is impossible to determine if the pursuit was for a valid reason.
The Police were in a van not a car.

[Old_Geezer]

Car, van, vehicle, matters little.

2 on a bike would be a legitimate reason, as linked to.

[retrocop]

Sorry Gromit. You asked.
Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended 1991 secs 28-30
It is an offence to cycle recklessly on a road or in a inconsiderate, careless or dangerous manner.
I reckon the officers had justification to follow these riders and deal with them as they thought fit.
If the boys choose to escape by riding down an alley and come to grief fatally then I reckon the offences I mention satisfy the Road Traffic Act. Unfortunately the deaths were caused by the boys reckless and dangerous behaviour.

[retrocop]

I got my info from the coppers bible Hopkers Book of Summons Headings which I still possess but you can read the same here
http://www.cyclelaw.co.uk/cycling-offences-riding-dangerously-recklessly-carelessly-or-inconsiderately

[anneasquith]

At least spare a thought for two young ladies who are dead.
Let the police decide on any disciplinary action . I’ll bet NFA .