Police chases / fleeing drivers: ‘reformulated’ chase policy, unchanged

The police will only pursue fleeing drivers if there is a threat before the chase begins and if the driver needs to be stopped immediately.

Police emphasize that there have been no changes to the monitoring policy, but it has been reformulated so that officers can follow it more consistently and accurately.

It comes after a leaked internal police email warned staff not to pursue fleeing drivers unless the threat “outweighs the risk of harm created by the pursuit.”

Figures show that more than 30,000 police chases were started between 2008 and 2019, leading to hundreds of crashes and the deaths of 79 people.

A joint thematic review by the Independent Police-Police Conduct Authority found that the persecution policy was robust, but was not always being used as it should.

The policy has been revised in accordance with the recommendation, but there have been no changes to the criteria for initiating a chase, says a police spokesman.

“The events of fleeing drivers are very volatile and high risk, so police are focused on ensuring that our practice is what the public expects and deserves, one that puts safety first.

Figures show that chases are most likely to occur at night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and accidents are more likely at night.

Most of the fleeing drivers are young men, many of whom drive stolen cars.

The policy now reads: “A chase is justified only when the threat posed by the occupants of the vehicle before the chase begins, and the need to immediately stop the driver and / or passenger (s), outweighs the risk of harm created by the chasing “.

Inspector Wade Jennings, Wellington’s road safety manager, suggested that the district’s front-line police should change their mind about activities, in an email obtained by Stuff.

The spokesperson says that the reformulation encourages staff to use the right mindset and approach towards activities.

“We want to make sure our officers’ mindset is focused on their TENR (Threat-Exposure-Need-Response) risk assessment when they make decisions,” they said.

“It’s about reminding them to think about the threat, the exposure, the need, and the response before even telling the driver to stop.

“And that the TENR decision-making process is continuously used to guide all subsequent decisions.”

Fleeing the police: the toll

Last year, the Herald compiled a list of many of those killed as a result of persecutions.

The list includes drivers who fled the police and died in accidents or were shot by the police at the end of the chase.

Some names of the dead have been suppressed and cannot be published. Others have not been released.

February 2008, Timaru
Vianne Shead, 18, passenger

March 2008, East Tamaki
Ritchie Nehua Angell, 20, conductor

May 2008, Dargaville
Dion Martin, 18, driver

July 2008, Featherston
Peter Kotsifakis, 18, stolen car driver

July 2008, Titahi Bay
Sergeant Derek Wootton, 52, killed while trying to place spikes in the road

October 2008, Christchurch
David Fowler, 52, motorcyclist

March 2009, West Auckland
Robert Alaiula, 14, passenger in stolen car

December 2009, Palmerston North
Martyn Dillon, 22, stolen motorcycle

January 2010, Wellington
Leith David Barnes, 28, motorcycle

February 2010, Picton
Chase Glen Neary aka Buckton, 21, motorcycle

February 2010, Murchison
Ricky Allan Forbes, passenger

March 2010, Puketaha
Israel Maki Tane Porter, 27, driver

May 2010, Palmerston North
Jason Luke Downes, 25, conductor

June 2010, Christchurch
Troy Peter Mackay, 22, driver

July 2010, Christchurch
Tama Regan Dobson aka Wikiriwhi, 27, conductor
Shannon Daoudihemira Smiler, 26, passenger
Karleane Marie Magon, 20, passenger

August 2010, Christchurch
Deidre Jordan, 67
Norm Fitt, 73
The friends were killed when their car was hit by fleeing driver Phillip Bannan at a red light.

September 2010, Onehunga
Jaycheree Makakea, 20, passenger
Joseph Tawhai, 20, passenger

October 2010, Te Puke
Harley Kendrick Sean Wilson, 21, driver, stolen car
Michael Adam Kaui Keepa, 25, passenger

December 2010, Mangere
Api Kao Aue, 33, driver

December 2010, Flat Bush
Georgina Cherish Stone-Te Haara, 20, passenger in stolen vehicle

January 2011, Auckland South Highway
Timoti Mohi, 15, stolen car driver

April 2011, Taipa
Luke John Bowman Yates, 22, driver

July 2011, Pukekohe
Caine Christopher Burgess, 20, stolen car driver

September 2011, Hobsonville
Sina Naraghizadeh, 18, stolen car

October 2011, Manaia
Robert Seifert, 36, conductor

July 2012, Gisborne
Dylan Kingi, 28, driver
Peter Bunyan, 27, passenger
Holly Gunn, 25, passenger

November 2012, Medium
James Dean Miles, 18, stolen car

February 2013, Hamilton
Rocky Joe Kohatu Hepi, 17, stolen car

February 2013, Christchurch
Ethan Dallas Takitimu-McKenzie, 15, passenger in stolen car

May 2013, Mangere
Dominic Stehlin, 19, driver – unlicensed and banned
Viane Gaga, 18, passenger
Uesetini To’o To’o, 18, passenger
George Lomia, 20, passenger

November 2013, Wanganui
Ayla Nelson-Boyd, 21, driver

January 2014, Greymouth
Judd Hall, 26, passenger

August 2014, Papatoetoe
Steven Te Pania, passenger

July 2015, Hamilton
Nathan William Nolan, 29, motorcycle racer

May 2015, Wanganui
Calum John Meyer, 25, conductor

January 2016, Featherston
Hoani Korewha, 15, passenger in stolen car
Pacer Willacy-Scott, 15, passenger in stolen car

January 2016, Papatoetoe
Eden Nathan, 16, passenger in stolen car

May 2016, Porirua
Female – name deleted, 21, passenger

August 2016, Rotorua
Moana Matthews, 17, driver

September 2016, Mt Roskill
Vinal Kavit Naidu, 31, motorcycle racer

January 2017, Manukau
Eden Hoey, 32, driver

March 2017, Bulls
Hayden Tahau, 26, motorcyclist

April 2017, Mangere
Rahiri Iehu-Moetara, 27, passenger

July 2017, Mangere
Man, 57 years old, motorcycle racer

July 2017
Man, 33 years old, details not published

August 2017
Shannon-Dean Ford, 39, driver

August 2017, Hamilton
Conrad Tuhua, 18, driver

September 2017, Hamilton
Shane Hohepa-Lennane, 27, passenger

September 2017, Gisborne
Ryan Glen Chrisp, 22, passenger

October 2017, St Lukes
Connor Talaimanu, 29, passenger
Sharina Storm Buy, 25, passenger

October 2017, Otara
Morrocco Tai, 15, passenger in stolen car

March 2018, Nelson
Johnathon Tairakena, 25, conductor
Phillip Jamie Stretch, 33, passenger
Carmen Marie Yanko, 53, innocent driver hit by fleeing car

May 2018, Palmerston North
Ihaia McPhee Maxwell, 15, driver, stolen car
Meadow James, 12, passenger

May 2018, Wellington
Bailey Patmore, 15, in the trunk of a stolen car

May 2018, New Plymouth
Phillip Allan Taylor, 32, stolen car driver

November 2018, Christchurch
Alexia Chrissy-Marie Noble-Hazelwood, 18, passenger

December 2018, Christchurch
Dennis Tunnicliffe, 25, driver
Renee Percy, 35, pregnant passenger

January 2019, Christchurch
Glen Mcallister, 16, believed to be the driver of a stolen car
Craig Mcallister, 13, believed to be a passenger
Brooklyn Taylor, 13, is believed to be a passenger

February 2019
A man police had been trying to locate out of fear for his safety died after crashing into a truck while officers fled in Hawke’s Bay. During the chase, the man crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming truck.

The following people died during or after police chases, but were not involved in vehicle crashes:

January 2009, Auckland
Halatau Naitoko, accidentally shot by police during the chase of Stephen Hohepa McDonald

March 2011
Lachan Kelly-Tumarae, 19, shot by police after chase

July 2013, Auckland North Expressway
Caleb Dean Henry, 20, shot by police after chase

September 2016, Auckland
Alaric Eccleston, 31 – jumped off Harbor Bridge during the chase

March 2018, Puhoi
Jerrim Toms, 26, driver shot by police after chase (not crash)

February 2019, Kawerau
Astin Cruz Hooper, 29, shot by police after a chase