Power: 30 per cent of all police pursuits abandoned

National’s Law and Order spokesman, Simon Power, says around 30% of all police pursuits conducted in the past year have been abandoned.

According to answers to Parliamentary written questions, 1866 car pursuits, including abandoned pursuits, have been conducted by police in the past 12 months. Of those, 547 were abandoned.

During the pursuits a total of 65 police vehicles were damaged in the past year, and two written off.

“Police Minister Annette King, having inherited from George Hawkins a department on very shaky ground, needs to get immediate assurance from the Office of the Police Commissioner that officers are being adequately trained to conduct pursuits,” says Mr Power.

“It seems unsatisfactory that 30% of the offenders being sought in police pursuits are not being caught at the time of pursuit.

“The minister also needs to assure the public that even though these offenders are not being caught at the time, they are eventually apprehended by police,” says Mr Power.

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