Officers cleared over taxi death

Independent experts examined 'black-box' data from a patrol car

A watchdog has said police officers following a car when it was involved in a fatal crash with a taxi acted appropriately and within force policy.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) was called in after the death of taxi driver Raymond Tristram from Skewen near Neath.

The 61-year-old was on duty when his cab was in a collision with a Mazda car in the Glais area of Swansea in July.

The Mazda driver was arrested and is subject to an on-going investigation.

The incident, which happened at 0100 BST on Saturday, 19, July, was referred to the IPCC by South Wales Police.

The IPCC said its investigators took comprehensive accounts from the officers and a significant witness, conducted house-to-house enquiries and studied control room tapes and the incident log.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies said: "We have now finished our investigation and have found that the police officers in this incident behaved appropriately and within force policy and training.

Condolences

"The officer had sought and received authorisation for the pursuit.

"My condolences go to Mr Tristram's family and friends, who have suffered this loss while their loved one was going about his business as a taxi driver."

He added as there was still an ongoing criminal investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further.

There were two males in the Mazda at the time of the collision, its 17-year-old owner and a 29-year-old who was driving.

Both needed hospital treatment for injuries to their legs and head.

The owner of the Mazda was interviewed jointly by the police and an IPCC investigator following his release from hospital.

The driver was arrested by the police and is subject to a separate police criminal investigation.