Police pursuits

Admiral Huddy

Admiral Huddy

Admiral Huddy

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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-27275989

I've never really understood why police have to chase these days. With the technology available and the abundance of CCTVs, how can they justify the risk of other people lives to pursue someone who's. If the target is already driving dangerously at high speed then fair enough otherwise they could be inviting them to do so.

Just seems odd to me.
 
If they don't chase them, how do you propose they catch them?

Can just imagine the scenario:

Turn up at the suspect's house at 4am, smash in the door, suspect manages to jump in the car.

"Sorry Sarge, he's scarpered! Dave, I thought I told you to unplug his battery?! Same time tomorrow lads?"
 
My guess is that you didn't read mu post.. My point is to ask if a high speed pursuit can be really justified and worth it. How would you or anyone feel of a fatality by a pursuit over something no more than a few petty crimes.

Also, would they be in high speed chase.. if the police hadn't have been in pursuit with their blues on.. ?

Maccy said:
Also makes for good tv.
Click to expand...
:D
 
Who would sign up to the police if there was no possibility of a high speed chase?!

How do you track someone whose identity you don't yet know (eg stolen car)? You hyave to chase them and arrest them so you can confirm it. You aren't going to get a bloody heli out for every guy that runs if you can avoid that expense.
 
.. but what leads them into a fast chase in the first place? the fact they have there sirens going? What is really that urgent that warrants a chase? Surely a more "stealthier" approach is more effective and safer?
 
I witness a police car chase on the M62 a couple of years ago. I was heading home and suddenly met with 3 police cars doing a rolling block East Bound, limiting us to no more than 40mph iirc.

I was on the front row when I saw on my left wing mirror, a silver beemer rushing down the hard shoulder with a Police BMW chasing it, before the 3 rolling blockade rushed off in pursuit.

If my old Clio were up for it, I would have rushed with them to see WTF is going on. Very exciting stuff on a sunny summer after work! Saw the perp getting arrested by 3 police cars that blocked him into the hard shoulder about a couple mile down the road.

In my case, fortunately, no one was injured. I believe with the right training and situation demands for it, a police chase is definitely required.

If they don't apprehend that perp and something worst should happen because he wasn't caught earlier?
 
except it doesn't quite work...

CCTV images are mostly naff quality with little chance of picking up the drivers face.
They don't chase. They don't catch. They don't prosecute.

What I don't get though is why we don't equip copters with marksmen with an anti-material rifle to lob a .50 cal through their engine block.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
.. but what leads them into a fast chase in the first place? the fact they have there sirens going? What is really that urgent that warrants a chase? Surely a more "stealthier" approach is more effective and safer?
Click to expand...

I believe that is the protocol if there is any possibility of danger to the public. They can always call out a police helicopter to follow from a discreet height.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Road chases seem pointless when they can just get a chopper on the scene
Click to expand...

You know how long that can take?
By that time the pursuit is often over.

You trolling Admiral Huddy?

The initial pursuit is done until the helicopter is available to follow from afar. Then the police driver can pull back so as not to put pressure on the bandit car.

If no heilcopter available then little choice but to continue pursuit unless it is cancelled as the bandit vehicle is driving far too dangerously where the control room will terminate the pursuit as there is too great a danger of a collision.

Have seen riders of stolen mopeds take their helmets off when being chased as they know police will usually terminate the pursuit due to the danger that the rider could die if a collision occurs.
 
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