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News that the police watchdog which is investigating the recent tragic crash near Middlesbrough (in which there were multiple fatalities), admitted “a pursuit began”, has highlighted inaccurate comments by the controversial former public monitor of South Wales Police (SWP), when there was also a police chase.
Among the seven who were killed recently were two police officers who died following the collision on the A66 in South Bank, Teesside. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has stated that it understands Cleveland Police (CP) “sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began”, which was only called off 10 seconds before the fatal crash.
The five young men who were killed in the crash were: Makai Saddington, aged 18, Michael Robert Cahill, aged 23, Jacob Matusiak, aged 23, Cole Robert Worthy, aged 16, and Theo Rae, aged 17.
The two police officers who died were PC Matthew Blades, aged 37, and PC Tom Clough, aged 38.
In this appalling event there seems to be uncanny echoes of what took place in Cardiff, but there has been nothing like the controversy over remarks from the relevant Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), or police fatalities in the Welsh capital – although young people DID die.
Following disturbances after the incident in the Ely area of Cardiff the one-time South Wakes Police (SWP), Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Alun Michael, had said that rumours the deaths of two teenagers had come after a police chase, were ‘not true’. However footage later emerged which contradicted this statement.
It showed a police van on a road shortly after the two youngsters had come through frame, riding on an e-bike, and SWP later confirmed that police had indeed been following the youths.
Mr Michael, though, stoutly defended his remarks, by declaring that they were made, “to the best of my knowledge”, and grabbed the headlines by telling MPs on the Welsh Affairs Committee: “I am satisfied that what I did was done appropriately at the time and with integrity”.
The IOPC confirmed after THIS event, that the driver of the van was under criminal investigation for dangerous driving.
Former IOPC Director General, David Ford had proclaimed: “First and foremost our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families and friends of the two boys who sadly lost their lives… in Ely. It is important that we independently investigate the circumstances leading up to this tragic event. This incident and the events that followed have, understandably, attracted significant interest and public concern. It is important that we thoroughly and independently investigate this matter, in order to establish the full facts and circumstances of exactly what happened …”
In another statement to the media later, he stated: “Upon conclusion of the investigation we will determine whether there is any indication that anyone serving with the police may have breached the standards of professional behaviour”.
15 year old Harvey Evans, and Kyrees Sullivan, who was 16, were killed, and several police officers were injured in the rioting which followed.
Some 27 people were charged with the offence of riot, while a further four were charged with causing or threatening to cause criminal damage.
Mr Michael said the outrage over his erroneous comments was not a factor in his decision to quit, although in the past he has been accused of being far too close to the police.
“I’ve done three terms as police and crime commissioner. I think it’s time for fresh leadership,” Mr Michael said
Others, however, have been unimpressed. Heledd Fychan, MS, said: “Alun Michael has seemingly acted as a spokesperson for South Wales Police rather than the community…”.
Under the headline: “Are PCCs the voice of the public in law and order matters – or the voice of the police?”, the columnist Will Hayward wrote in the Western Mail (WM): “Mr Michael…blamed the “rumours” of a police chase leading to the riot.
“But then later the same day CCTV emerged appearing to show an electric bike being followed by a police van.”.
All The Eye’s sympathies go to the families of those who died in the terrible Teeside incident – but at least incorrect comments by the PCC there have not made it even more difficult for them.
The memories of our Editor, Welshman Phil Parry’s decades long award-winning career in journalism (including stories about police actions) as he was gripped by the rare neurological disease Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), have been released in a major book ‘A GOOD STORY’. Order it now.
Tomorrow – during 23 years with the BBC, and a 43 year journalistic career (when he was trained to use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon), Phil learned there was often a fine line between humour and crisis, which is highlighted by news now that an American had run out of breakfast materials, so she asked a travel ‘fixer’ to fly to Paris for a croissant!
