§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers the policy of chief constables in relation to the pursuit of suspects driving away vehicles; whether any limits are imposed on the freedom of police officers to enter into pursuit and on the maximum speed of police vehicles while engaged in pursuit duties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe pursuit of suspects driving away vehicles is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The Association of Chief Police Officers, in a recent review of police driver training, has produced a recommended code of practice on pursuit management and driving.
All the emergency services, including the police, are exempt from the speed limits if observing them would hinder the purpose for which the vehicle was being used.