Damaged Police Cars Incident.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Warwickshire Police,
On Saturday 14th November 2020 the BBC reported an incident in which a woman driving a suspected stolen Range Rover Evoque in Solihull after midnight was apparently chased by officers from the CMPG for about 50 miles and was finally brought to a halt after ramming into two police cars near Northampton.When stopped, the vehicle vehicle was found to have children on board and the 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.Quote "In a tweet, Warwickshire Police officers who assisted the pursuit said the youngsters were "thankfully unhurt". The whole dangerous incident, as reported by the BBC,has been very badly reported and leaves several aspects requiring clarification.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-co...

FOI Q1.The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) is a business collaboration between Staffordshire and West Midlands Police (WMP), and does not incorporate Warwickshire Police, yet Warwickshire police apparently assisted in the pursuit which ended near Northampton, 30miles outside of the WMP Boundary, and two police cars were damaged when forcing the stop.Obviously Warwickshire police were requested by CMPG to participate in the chase but please confirm if the two damaged police vehicles were the property of the CMPG or Warwickshire Police and confirm the reported extent of the damage and if they were taken out of service.What was the extent of the recovery operation organised?Was medical assistance requested?
FOI Q2.Please advise where the chase ended, indication whether on a motorway or lesser road.
FOI Q3.Quote "A 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, CMPG added". Please advise if the arresting officer was a member of the CMPG at the scene, or a Warwickshire officer, and which police station or custody suite the woman and children were taken to at that time of night. How were the children looked after whilst the woman was kept in custody and,if not the responsibility of Warwickshire police in this case,how would children be dealt with if a mother and children from outside your area were brought into custody?
FOI Q4.Please advise which Force will be responsible for completing the criminal prosecution since the alleged dangerous driving covered several police areas.
FOI Q5.Please advise of the manner that CMPG indicated to Warwickshire Police that the target vehicle was suspected stolen, how many Warwickshire vehicles were redirected to assist, and advise as to why the woman was not charged with any offence other than quality of driving, when her car ownership and license / insurance details could be verified on the spot by reference to the National database to support other charges.
End of FOI requests.
The purpose of these questions is to understand how the CMPG operate way outside of their county boundaries and who then takes responsibility for dealing with the consequencies.This incident involving children could have had a very serious outcome, and if the woman was actually taxed and insured there is no indication as to why the CMPG thought the car was stolen and decided to chase it so far across counties.

Yours faithfully,
Dennis Fallon (BScHons)

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@ Freedom of Information, Warwickshire Police

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Dear Dennis Fallon,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 546-2020

 

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@ Freedom of Information, Warwickshire Police

 
Dear Dennis Fallon
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 546-2020
 
I write in connection with your request for information received on 16^th
November 2020.  Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in
responding to your request.  Your questions and the Warwickshire Police
responses are set out below:
 
Response:
 
FOI Q1.The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) is a business
collaboration between Staffordshire and West Midlands Police (WMP), and
does not incorporate Warwickshire Police, yet Warwickshire police
apparently assisted in the pursuit which ended near Northampton, 30miles
outside of the WMP Boundary, and two police cars were damaged when forcing
the stop. Obviously Warwickshire police were requested by CMPG to
participate in the chase but
 
(a) please confirm if the two damaged police vehicles were the property of
the CMPG or Warwickshire Police and
 
(a) Response:
One Warwickshire Police vehicle was damaged
 
(b) confirm the reported extent of the damage and if they were taken out
of service.
 
(b) Response:
Bodywork damage which required repair.  The vehicle was taken out of
service 
 
(c) What was the extent of the recovery operation organised?
 
(c) Response:
Vehicle recovery was via a Commercial Recovery business.
 
(d) Was medical assistance requested?
 
(d) Response:
  Yes
 
 
FOI Q2.Please advise where the chase ended, indication whether on a
motorway or lesser road.
 
Q2. Response:
M6
 
 
FOI Q3.Quote "A 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of dangerous
driving, CMPG added".
 
(a) Please advise if the arresting officer was a member of the CMPG at the
scene, or a Warwickshire officer, and
 
(a)  Response:
No information held that this was a Warwickshire Police officer.
 
(b) which police station or custody suite the woman and children were
taken to at that time of night. 
 
(b) Response:
The female was taken to Coventry Custody suite.  No information held in
relation to the children.
 
(c) How were the children looked after whilst the woman was kept in
custody and,
 
(c) Response:   
Suitable adult provision was located
 
(d) if not the responsibility of Warwickshire police in this case, how
would children be dealt with if a mother and children from outside your
area were brought into custody?
 
(d) Response:
No specific Information Held. 
 
Outside of the Freedom of Information Act I can advise that Warwickshire
Police would have suitable policies in place to ensure the welfare and
safeguarding of children for any period under police supervision.
 
 
FOI Q4.Please advise which Force will be responsible for completing the
criminal prosecution since the alleged dangerous driving covered several
police areas.
 
Q4. Response:
West Midlands Police had primacy as the offences originated on the West
Midlands Policing area even though they continued onto Warwickshire.
 
 
FOI Q5. (a) Please advise of the manner that CMPG indicated to
Warwickshire Police that the target vehicle was suspected stolen,
 
(a) Response:
West Midlands Police made contact via radio.
 
(b) how many Warwickshire vehicles were redirected to assist, and
 
(b) Response:
Three OPU units directly involved.
 
(c) advise as to why the woman was not charged with any offence other than
quality of driving, when her car ownership and license / insurance details
could be verified on the spot by reference to the National database to
support other charges.  
 
(c) Response:
No information held. 
 
Outside of the Act I can advise that it is not in the gift of any force to
determine whether or not there is definitively sufficient evidence to
charge. This would be determined by the Crown Prosecutions Service.
 
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as
accurate as possibleYour attention is drawn to the below which details
your right of complaint.Should you have any further enquiries concerning
this matter, please write or telephone the Information Compliance Unit
quoting the reference number above.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Sabina Harris
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
email: [email address]
 
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