In my view, it is particularly significant that in two Inquests involving police pursuits, each of them lasting for a period of less than 3 minutes, the incident controllers have each explained that they were reluctant to into a chase or the ‘break call’ ‘distract’ driver in a potentially dangerous situation. It seems that the expectations of the General Orders are better suited to circumstances in which a chase is continuing for some lengthier period than 2 or 3 minutes. The irony of this of course is that, the longer a chase continues, the greater the likelihood that there will be a risk of serious harm or death resulting to participants or innocent bystanders. Consideration by Ethical and Professional Standards Branch and DPP The Ethical and Professional Standards Branch of SAPOL investigated the circumstances of this matter. As a result, a number of the officers were given managerial guidance in relation to aspects of their involvement in the pursuit. I do not intend to set out the details here, they can be found in the evidence that was tendered in this matter. The Ethical and Professional Standards Branch also submitted the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for assessment. The outcome of that was that no charges were laid against any police officer for breach of the Australian Road Rules or other laws. Conclusions and recommendations In my opinion, a decision to terminate the chase should have been made by the driver of the primary police vehicle once the stolen utility went through the intersection of Torrens and Regency Roads against the red light at high speed. That would have complied with the spirit of the General Order. The driver received managerial guidance about the risk assessment process. I do not believe that it is possible to conclude that the fatal collision would not have occurred had the pursuit been terminated at that point. According to Exhibit C91b, that event was reported as having occurred some 34 seconds prior to the report of the collision. I believe that it is unlikely that Bevan Lawrie would have reduced speed in that time, bearing in mind that he had been involved in a pursuit for the preceding two minutes. So it may be that even if the pursuit had been terminated at that time, the tragic outcome would have been the same.
In my view, it is particularly significant that in two Inquests involving police pursuits, each of them lasting for a period of less than 3 minutes, the incident controllers have each explained that they were reluctant to ‘break into a chase call’ or ‘distract’ the driver in a potentially dangerous situation. It seems that the expectations of the General Orders are better suited to circumstances in which a chase is continuing for some lengthier period than 2 or 3 minutes. The irony of this of course is that, the longer a chase continues, the greater the likelihood that there will be a risk of serious harm or death resulting to participants or innocent bystanders. Consideration by Ethical and Professional Standards Branch and DPP The Ethical and Professional Standards Branch of SAPOL investigated the circumstances of this matter. As a result, a number of the officers were given managerial guidance in relation to aspects of their involvement in the pursuit. I do not intend to set out the details here, they can be found in the evidence that was tendered in this matter. The Ethical and Professional Standards Branch also submitted the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for assessment. The outcome of that was that no charges were laid against any police officer for breach of the Australian Road Rules or other laws. Conclusions and recommendations In my opinion, a decision to terminate the chase should have been made by the driver of the primary police vehicle once the stolen utility went through the intersection of Torrens and Regency Roads against the red light at high speed. That would have complied with the spirit of the General Order. The driver received managerial guidance about the risk assessment process. I do not believe that it is possible to conclude that the fatal collision would not have occurred had the pursuit been terminated at that point. According to Exhibit C91b, that event was reported as having occurred some 34 seconds prior to the report of the collision. I believe that it is unlikely that Bevan Lawrie would have reduced speed in that time, bearing in mind that he had been involved in a pursuit for the preceding two minutes. So it may be that even if the pursuit had been terminated at that time, the tragic outcome would have been the same.