By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
PAKENHAM police have thrown their support behind new policy that will mean police will no longer chase drivers who fail to pull over.
The changes direct that police no longer pursue criminals on the road unless they pose an immediate threat to public safety.
They may also engage in a pursuit if they believe an offence causing serious injury has been committed or if there is no alternative means for arrest of the individual.
Pakenham Senior Sergeant Nathan Prowd praised the policy, saying that it was in the best interests of both the police and the community.
“We look at pursuits as a dangerous act, not only for the police but for the community, so we want to make sure we’re not putting the innocent people at risk by pursuing,” he said.
The new policy will mean more focus will be put on the follow-up investigation rather than pursing motorists intent on fleeing police.
“What is going to happen is that we are going to put more of a focus on investigation,” he said.
“If people fail to obey the directions of police, we will be investigating that thoroughly and enforcing obligations on people who disclose details of the driver.
“If people think they can just ignore the directions of police now, that’s not the case at all. It will just be that police may not chase them and create a dangerous situation.”
The changes are the result of a review of the policy, conducted after a coronial investigation into pursuit deaths.
Since 2010 there have been 13 deaths on Australian roads resulting from police pursuits.
