Concern over 999 road fatalities

Mr Rose has recommended records are kept of high speed responses

A coroner in Somerset has raised concerns about the number of innocent bystanders killed in crashes involving police cars on emergency calls.

Michael Rose, made the comments at the inquest of Christopher Mollan, 77, whose vehicle was hit by a police car, which had its siren and blue lights on.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death over the crash on the A39 near Bridgwater in June.

Mr Rose said he had dealt with three similar deaths in the past three years.

The crash in which Mr Mollan died happened on 9 June as armed police officers responded to reports of a sighting of a man with a handgun in Langport.

Mr Rose, coroner for west Somerset, said that it was unclear whether the motorist had seen the police car before pulling out of the junction.

I suspect there will be many cases where the level of speed was disproportionate to the crime Michael Rose Coroner

In his ruling, the coroner said: "During the last three years I have opened four such inquests, of which three were civilian deaths.

"In none of the cases before me was the driving of a policeman at fault. Nor must one forget that there would be no need for police involvement had a crime or suspected crime not occurred.

"I have a clear duty to consider whether or not there are any such steps that can be taken to prevent such deaths, particularly to innocent people.

"I am therefore asking HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers to keep records detailing the type of crime where high-speed responses and pursuits have been involved."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigated the crash and recommended that Avon and Somerset police install "black boxes" in their vehicles to record the travelling speed.