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Canberra Today 24°/26° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Police pursuits to be curtailed

police vehicles

SIMON Corbell, Shane Rattenbury, and Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers have announced new laws intended to reduce the number of police pursuits in the ACT.

Simon said new laws would give police powers that would lessen the need for pursuits by providing alternate avenues for police to identify, apprehend and prosecute offending drivers without the need for a pursuit.

“In conjunction with the new laws presented by the government, ACT Policing will implement a revised and limited police pursuit policy. This is a crucial road safety reform for the ACT,” said Simon.

“It will dramatically reduce the number of police pursuits that occur on our roads,” Shane said.

“Police pursuits create a high risk of death or injury. They involve a skilled police officer pursuing another driver who is generally not skilled and not trained to drive at high speed around other traffic, vulnerable road users, pedestrians and other hazards

“The new policy provides that police will no longer pursue drivers unless it is necessary to prevent a serious risk to public health or safety, or an offence has been committed, or is about to be committed, which involves serious injury to or death of a person. Previously about 90% of pursuits occurred in relation to traffic offences.

“Tragically, since 2004, nine fatalities have occurred in the ACT related to police pursuits. ACT police officers have not been found at fault in relation to any deaths. However, any death on ACT roads is both regrettable and something that we should seek to prevent.

“The Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 will introduce a new offence of ‘failing to stop for police’ and give police powers to seize a vehicle, including the power to enter a garage, shed or other structure on private property where the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the motor vehicle is located.

“Drivers who commit the new offence of ‘failing to stop for police’ could be subject to a maximum penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment and up to $15,000 in fines. Repeat offenders could face an increased maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment and $45,000 in fines. Drivers can also have their licence suspended and vehicle seized,” Mr Rattenbury said.

Simon says these changes do not mean offenders would go unpunished.

“Pursuits should not be the primary means for effecting the apprehension and arrest of fleeing drivers and should only occur in exceptional circumstances where the overall harm the police are seeking to prevent outweighs the risks involved in conducting a pursuit,” Simon said.

“These new laws ensure that police will be able to identify and apprehend offending drivers even if they aren’t apprehended immediately, and offending drivers will face significantly higher penalties, immediate licence suspension and seizure of their vehicles.

“Police may still choose to pursue a vehicle if the circumstances justify the need for a pursuit.”

Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers said reducing police pursuits reinforces ACT Policing’s commitment to protecting life and ensuring the safety of the community.

“Too often we have seen the tragic results of some people who decide their best option is to disobey a police instruction to stop, and by doing so they unjustifiably place themselves, others and police in extremely dangerous and life threatening situations,” Rudi said.

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