Crash prompts police chase fears

The teenager died after a crash in Nottingham

Police watchdogs say they are concerned about the number of crashes involving squad cars.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) says it wants to reduce the number of chases after a teenager died in Nottingham.

The red Vauxhall Nova was spotted on Berridge Road, in the Radford area, at 0008 BST on Saturday.

It collided with a tree at the junction of Western Boulevard and Nuthall Road, killing a 16-year-old boy.

Two other youths in the car, aged 15 and 16, were taken to hospital but are not in a life-threatening condition.

The two survivors were treated by a passing ambulance crew after the fire service cut all three from the car.

Certainly the IPCC are concerned about the number of accidents involving police vehicles Mike Franklin, IPCC commissioner

In February, three teenagers died in Bramcote after officers followed their VW Golf GTI.

Mike Franklin, IPCC commissioner, said such pursuits need reviewing.

He said: "Certainly the IPCC are concerned about the number of accidents involving police vehicles.

"Depending on what comes out of this investigation, any action that we take will be designed to reduce the risk of this sort of thing happening again because it's a very traumatic and sad incident for everybody."

'Short pursuit'

In an earlier statement, IPCC spokesman Richard Offer said both officers involved in the incident would remain on duty and would give statements to the inquiry.

"It was a short pursuit. It lasted a few minutes," he said.

"We will be taking statements from the officers but we are hoping that witnesses will come forward and tell us what speed they were doing."

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said it would be inappropriate to comment about the incident because investigations are ongoing.

Last year the Nottinghamshire coroner asked the county's chief constable to review the force's policy on such chases, after two teenagers died outside the National Ice Centre during a high speed police pursuit.