Sensible Sentencing Trust Tauranga spokesman Ken Evans says the increase in police pursuits reflects a rise in lawlessness. Photo/file
Sensible Sentencing Trust Tauranga spokesman Ken Evans says the increase in police pursuits reflects a rise in lawlessness. Photo/file
The number of police pursuits in the Western Bay of Plenty has nearly doubled, raising concern from police who say the issue is a double-edged sword.
A total of 61 people fled police in the Western Bay from January 2017 to June 2017 - the latest figures available. The figure is almost twice that of the 35 recorded for the same period the year before.
If people just stopped we wouldn't have these problems but how do you change the mindset of those that run?
New Zealand Police Association regional representative Scott Thompson said there were many factors behind the increase but unfortunately in most cases, the reasons drivers fled were often minuscule compared to the end result.
"It's often they don't have their driver's licence on them, or they are slightly intoxicated, etc. Then after there's been a tragedy that causes their life to be lost or other people's lives to be lost people say 'oh, why did the police chase them?'," Thompson said.
"Unfortunately for our staff ... car chases become very dangerous due to the sheer nature of what happens, even with stingers or spikes to deflate the tyres. We lost an officer in Wellington deploying those and there have been many cases where drivers are being directly driven at," he said.
However, officers were duty-bound to keep people safe - either by stopping a dangerous offender on the road or by backing off to prevent potential crashes.
"That's where it becomes difficult for our staff. They have to balance that. The public pays them to do a job and stop people suspected of a crime or to carry out random breath tests. Yet the same public beat us up and say 'why were you pursuing them' when things go wrong," Thompson said.
"It puts a hell of a lot of pressure on staff. It's not like any other job. Sometimes their biggest concern is that, and there's no right answer."
Bay of Plenty road policing manager Brent Crowe said an increase in fleeing drivers was concerning but there'd be no issue if people simple stopped.
Bay of Plenty road policing manager Brent Crowe said the increase in fleeing drivers was concerning, as was any rise in crime.
"[Pursuits] are fast-moving, unpredictable, high-pressure situations that require quick and sound judgements, and which the public rightly expect us to get right," Crowe said.
"On each occasion, police must strike a balance between safety and our duty to uphold the law, however, this could all be negated if the fleeing driver took responsibility for their actions, made better decisions and stopped when requested to do so.
Crowe said if police stopped a chase for safety reasons, "vigorous follow-up investigations" would be made to hold the driver to account.
Ken Evans, of the Tauranga branch of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, believed the rise reflected an increase in lawlessness in society. Police pursuits were needed, he said.
"If police didn't pursue, we would have more and more people tearing around our streets thinking police aren't going to bother with them. People need to know that the law is going to catch them. Penalties have to be strong enough to be a deterrent."
Under review
The Independent Police Conduct Authority and New Zealand Police started a joint review in July, last year. Nationally, about 300 drivers flee police every month. The review was aimed at understanding pursuit environments, and to identify issues with how police manage them. A report is expected to be made publicly available late this year.
