Is it police policy to let younger motorcycle thieves run free in the UK and not bother chasing after the offender?
There is a lot involved in a police chase, and it’s never one man’s decision to chase or to back off. Public safety is a significant factor in the decision, and also bothersome riders of motorcycles need to be safe.
Why can’t police chase motorcycles?
It’s wrong to say police can’t chase motorcycles because they frequently do. Factors need to be considered, and it’s never the police rider who makes all of the decisions to chase or not to chase.
Public safety has to be taken into account. The police officer in pursuit has to make a quick decision to proceed.
The public outcry from an accident that caused a member of the public to be injured in pursuit of a speeding motorcycle would be enormous and soon come under the spotlight of the media and critics alike.
The safety of the police officer pursuing a motorcycle needs to be considered along with the offender on the motorcycle. No police officer in the land wants to injure a speeding motorcycle rider or a thief on a motorcycle.
The consequences of an accident in a high-speed pursuit invariably result in serious injury or death of the assailant.
Most police forces understand the consequences and prefer to back off, knowing that the assailant is bound to poke his head above the parapet and be arrested for a different offence in the future.
Tactical advisor
For a pursuit that could be protracted, the UK police call for a tactical advisor, aka TacAd, to assist in the pursuit. The idea is that the officer is experienced in these types of operations and can keep a calm head and make the correct decision.
The card is in constant communication with the patrol unit in pursuit and is taking feedback from the driver or rider of the police unit.
There often comes the point when the only clear decision is to back off in the interest of saving lives, including the officers and the assailant.
If the assailant is jumping red lights, he is not only placing his own life at risk but the officers and any other motorists who are oblivious to what’s going on.
Keep it safe
The sad truth is that most motorcycle thieves are nothing more than kids or young teenagers looking for a bit of fun and unaware of the potential consequences of their actions.
To force a panicking teenager into making a catastrophic mistake would be hard to stomach for the police officer involved and indeed to the police force.
The media attention and possible litigation also have to be considered. We live in a woke world where certain members of society would like to cancel the police sending society into chaos and anarchy.
This is why the police do not rightly pursue every motorcycle committing an offence and choose to air on the side of caution.