Blame those fleeing, not the Police

Stuff reports:

Police Minister Judith Collins maintains police should pursue fleeing vehicles despite a baby being in hospital with serious injuries after a police chase in Auckland.

A man, woman and 5-month-old child were injured following a serious crash on State Highway 16, north of Auckland on Thursday afternoon.

Police were pursuing the vehicle at the time it crashed after the driver failed to stop when police attempted to pull him over for speeding.

On Wednesday the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) called for police to alter their rules on pursuing drivers, saying they don’t reduce the risk to the public and rarely end successfully.

Collins has reiterated her support for police pursuits and on Thursday said she “absolutely” stood by her comments.

“Obviously people have been hospitalised, which is very sad, but that’s what happens when you’ve got speeding drivers who unfortunately put children and other people at risk,” she said.

“What we’ve got is someone who was speeding already, that’s why police tried to stop him.”

If someone driving knows they will get away by refusing to stop, then it just increases the incentive for them to speed and flee.

The certainty of getting caught and getting a criminal record is the best incentive to stop them.