Media Release

For Immediate Release
21 August 2007

Pursuit Review Must Not Shift Blame Off Offenders

"It is drivers who refuse to stop for police, not police officers, who are to blame for members of the public becoming innocent victims of those offenders' selfish and irresponsible actions," Police Association Vice President Stuart Mills said today.

"Offenders who are the subject of police pursuits, often pose a danger to the public long before a pursuit begins. For example, drunk and dangerous drivers, or serious offenders fleeing from scenes of crime. And as soon as any driver makes the decision to refuse to stop, they choose to put themselves ahead of public safety," said Mr Mills.

"Police pursuit policies are a careful balancing act between the need to apprehend offenders who are placing the public at risk through their actions, and the potential for the risk to be heightened by offenders who respond by driving even more dangerously, with even less regard for public safety."

Mr Mills said, "We believe existing policies are appropriate. Police do not enter into pursuits lightly. But if the PCA's review serves to improve public confidence in those policies, it may be useful in that regard.

"It's a fact that the biggest deterrent to any sort of offending is not the penalty, but the certain knowledge that you will be caught. Offenders who know that police will catch them, have no incentive to put themselves and others at risk by running."

"We must be very careful not to shift the blame off the offenders, or give offenders comfort that by fleeing, police will not pursue and they will evade responsibility for their actions That would just encourage irresponsible driving and lead to further tragedies. That must not be the outcome of this review," Mr Mills said.

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