No misconduct in ‘life-changing’ police collision

An officer who struck a female pedestrian with his car while responding to a 999 call was driving in line with national guidelines, an investigation has found. The woman had just left a tram in Nottingham’s Wilkinson Street when she was hit by a single-crewed police car on January 11. The 46-year-old was rushed to hospital where she was treated for “life-changing” injuries. An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation found the police car was overtaking a stationary bus but “decelerated significantly” before the collision occurred. The vehicle’s lights were on and a witness who was wearing headphones at the time confirmed that the siren had been activated. CCTV evidence showed the woman had her hood up and had not looked to her left before crossing the road. The inquiry concluded that the officer’s actions were consistent with national guidance and legal exemptions from complying with speed limits and road signs. IPCC commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “The consequences of this incident were tragic and life-changing for the woman involved and her family, and they have my sympathy. “After conducting a thorough investigation, our investigator’s opinion was that the decisions and actions of the officer driving the car involved were in line with policy and reasonable in the circumstances.”