HC Deb 13 May 1985 vol 79 cc7-8W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road accidents involving Metropolitan police vehicles on emergency calls have occurred in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The precise information requested is not readily available. In a very substantial mileage covered annually by Metropolitan police vehicles (amounting to some 50 million miles in 1984) the following are the numbers of accidents involving police vehicles responding, to an emergency call or pursuing a suspect vehicle where it was considered that the driving of the police vehicle was in some measure responsible for the accident.

Answering emergency call Pursuing suspect vehicle otherwise than in response to an emergency call Total
1982 213 72 285
1983 252 78 330
1984 312 57 369

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have (a) been killed or (b) been injured as a result of road accidents involving Metropolitan police vehicles on emergency calls in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The number of people killed as a result of road accidents involving Metropolitan police vehicles engaged on emergency calls or pursuing suspect vehicles is as follows:

Answering emergency calls Pursuing suspect vehicles otherwise than in response to an emergency call Total
1982 4 4 8
1983 1 2 3
1984 0 5 5

The precise information requested is not readily available. The following figures relate to the number of accidents involving Metropolitan police vehicles where injury occurred:

Answering emergency calls Pursuing suspect vehicles otherwise than in response to an emergency call Total
1982 37 13 50
1983 36 8 44
1984 36 7 43