Coroner's Recommendations To Shape Pursuit Policy
Coroner's recommendations will be considered in changes to police pursuit
The Northland Coroner’s
recommendations following his findings into the death of
Erin Burgess in Northland will be given close consideration
by the team currently reviewing Police Pursuits Policy, the
Deputy Commissioner Operations, Steve Long, said today.
"Police acknowledge the ongoing pain and grief
experienced by the Burgess family over the death of Erin.
While there is little we can do to heal the loss they have
experienced through the grossly careless and dangerous
actions of Kuran Brunton, we will do our utmost to minimise
the likelihood of similar deaths."
Deputy
Commissioner Long said that the Police Pursuits Review team
supported by a reference group of external parties was
nearing completion of its work. The Coroner’s report would
certainly be taken into consideration before a report
recommending changes to the Pursuits Policy was finalised by
the Police Board of Commissioners’ in the new year.
In the meantime a directive would be issued to officers
reinforcing that communications centres were to control the
conduct of pursuits and that any order to abandon a pursuit
must be actioned fully and without question.
"Lessons will certainly be learned from this tragedy,
especially around the difficulties of achieving clear
communication given the pressured environment of a pursuit
conducted at high speeds.
"There are some
differences of approach and interpretation between the
Coroner’s and the Police report. The Police report along
with a supplementary report from Detective Superintendent
Shortland in response to the Coroner’s findings will be
referred to the Police Complaints Authority for independent
review.
"The original report by Detective
Superintendent Shortland looked at issues of compliance and
culpability and found no criminal or disciplinary liability.
This conclusion was also reached by the Crown Solicitor. The
Coroner with his terms of reference relating to the time,
place, causes and circumstances of how Erin Burgess died,
took a holistic approach and found elements of the Police
Pursuit system wanting. Of that we are in agreement.
"Judgement calls were made by a number of Police
officers operating in a difficult environment. Our objective
must be to construct policy and provide training to ensure
that officers engaging in pursuits are best equipped to
undertake them with maximum safety," said Mr Long.