Kelly Makiha: Police chase rethink needs to save lives

The damage from a police chase that saw a young Rotorua man die. Photo / File

OPINION

I've heard people say recently, "it's dumb how police can't chase drivers anymore".

This isn't actually true.

Yes, police have tweaked their pursuits policy, but it doesn't mean they won't do what they can to catch people who break the law.

What the rethink of the policy means is police are cracking down on officers starting car chases where the risk of harm doesn't justify the pursuit.

The rethink means officers are only able to start a chase if the need to catch the driver or passengers outweighs the risk or harm created by the pursuit.

It follows a joint review with the Independent Police Conduct Authority last year, which found that while the policy was sound, it wasn't being used consistently or as it should be.

Imagine being the officer in the heat of the moment seeing something criminal happening before their eyes and having to make a split second judgement call whether to go for it and catch the baddie or let them go.

I would think given the heat going on this topic they are now going to err on the side of caution. You wouldn't want to be that police officer who makes the wrong call.

A coroner has recently released findings into a November 2018 police car chase in Rotorua that ended when the driver, Thomas Manawaiti, crashed dramatically on Malfroy Rd.

It was estimated he was travelling 111km/h when he lost control on a bend, flipped several times and landed on the car's roof.

The 24-year-old father of two young children died the next day. Manawaiti shouldn't have run from police and no one really knows why he did.

He was a young lad who loved cars, had a few drinks and was possibly just over the drink driving limit. He had a previous conviction for running from police.

He also wasn't driving on a legal licence after having it suspended for exceeding demerit points. He was entitled to get his licence back a few months before he died but hadn't got around to it.

Manawaiti wasn't squeaky clean but he was also described as a good man who was respected by his peers and was doing his best in life for his young family.

Behind the wheel with alcohol in his system and travelling at that speed, he became a danger and ultimately his decision to run from the police cost him his life.

Coroner Donna Llewell said while police were still reviewing their processes at the time of her finding, it didn't mean the police's decision to chase Manawaiti on that night was improper, without good cause or was in breach of the law, policy or procedure.

Manawaiti was sadly responsible for his own death but hopefully this rethink of the pursuit laws will result in fewer fatalities.