ID :
99945
Thu, 01/14/2010 - 08:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/99945
The shortlink copeid
Police union calls for new evasion laws
(AAP) - Drivers who attempt to evade police would face three years in jail under new laws proposed by the union that represents NSW officers.
A meeting of the NSW Police Association in Sydney on Wednesday passed a motion
calling for the creation of a new criminal offence for people who spark dangerous
pursuits.
The move comes after a spate of high-speed chases in the past two weeks, including
one which killed 19-month-old Skye Sassine in Sydney's southwest.
The laws would cover drivers who fail to stop after police activate sirens, then
drive "in a manner dangerous to the public without lawful or reasonable purpose,"
union vice-president Scott Weber said in a statement.
"It's clear that police officers are angry and upset by the recent cases where
alleged offenders have tried to evade police, instigating dangerous pursuits through
city streets.
"Stronger laws, such as the ones canvassed by officers today, are well worth
considering - even if they prevent just one life from being lost."
Highway patrol officers have been pressing for tougher laws since Skye's death at
Ingleburn during a police pursuit on New Year's Eve.
The pursuit ended when a Chrysler Voyager, which was allegedly used in an armed
robbery, crashed into a Subaru on the Hume Highway. Two men were charged over the
incident.
On January 9, two boys were seriously hurt following a police pursuit of a stolen
car in central NSW.
The 16-year-old driving the car was left in a critical condition, while a
13-year-old passenger was seriously injured.
On January 11, a high-speed police pursuit of alleged armed robbers left a woman
with a suspected broken wrist.
The chase ended in Wolli Creek, in Sydney's west, when a car ran a red light and
crashed into a silver Nissan Pulsar driven by a local couple.
Mr Weber said officers were often faced with a Catch-22 situation when dealing with
police pursuits.
"When an offender tries to escape in a car, police have to make an assessment under
very strict pursuit guidelines and decide whether or not to engage or ultimately
discontinue a pursuit," he said.
"The risks of letting the offender get away must be balanced against the risks of a
pursuit."
He urged state politicians to back the proposal.
"Our highway patrol police are professionally trained officers with an absolute
commitment to reducing road trauma and now it's time for the legislators in NSW to
give us the powers to keep NSW a safer place for all road users," he said.
A meeting of the NSW Police Association in Sydney on Wednesday passed a motion
calling for the creation of a new criminal offence for people who spark dangerous
pursuits.
The move comes after a spate of high-speed chases in the past two weeks, including
one which killed 19-month-old Skye Sassine in Sydney's southwest.
The laws would cover drivers who fail to stop after police activate sirens, then
drive "in a manner dangerous to the public without lawful or reasonable purpose,"
union vice-president Scott Weber said in a statement.
"It's clear that police officers are angry and upset by the recent cases where
alleged offenders have tried to evade police, instigating dangerous pursuits through
city streets.
"Stronger laws, such as the ones canvassed by officers today, are well worth
considering - even if they prevent just one life from being lost."
Highway patrol officers have been pressing for tougher laws since Skye's death at
Ingleburn during a police pursuit on New Year's Eve.
The pursuit ended when a Chrysler Voyager, which was allegedly used in an armed
robbery, crashed into a Subaru on the Hume Highway. Two men were charged over the
incident.
On January 9, two boys were seriously hurt following a police pursuit of a stolen
car in central NSW.
The 16-year-old driving the car was left in a critical condition, while a
13-year-old passenger was seriously injured.
On January 11, a high-speed police pursuit of alleged armed robbers left a woman
with a suspected broken wrist.
The chase ended in Wolli Creek, in Sydney's west, when a car ran a red light and
crashed into a silver Nissan Pulsar driven by a local couple.
Mr Weber said officers were often faced with a Catch-22 situation when dealing with
police pursuits.
"When an offender tries to escape in a car, police have to make an assessment under
very strict pursuit guidelines and decide whether or not to engage or ultimately
discontinue a pursuit," he said.
"The risks of letting the offender get away must be balanced against the risks of a
pursuit."
He urged state politicians to back the proposal.
"Our highway patrol police are professionally trained officers with an absolute
commitment to reducing road trauma and now it's time for the legislators in NSW to
give us the powers to keep NSW a safer place for all road users," he said.
