Shrewsbury A5 crash inquest: Police are told 'try to avoid car pursuit'

Retired West Mercia police officer Richard Faulkner – also a driver trainer – told the jury at the second day of the inquest of Stefen Boswell that officers were trained "at all costs" to try and avoid pursuing vehicles.

Mr Boswell was killed in the accident following a high-speed pursuit on June 6 last year.

The accident happened during the early hours of the morning after Mr Boswell stole a red Vauxhall Corsa from the driveway of a home in Craven Arms earlier that night before picking up his nephew, Jamie Jones.

Jones survived the crash but suffered serious injuries and is currently serving a year in jail for aggravated vehicle taking. The pursuit ended tragically when Mr Boswell died after losing control of the car going the wrong way around the Emstrey island, mounting the embankment and crashing.

Mr Faulkner provided evidence yesterday at the inquest at the Greenhous Meadow.

Speaking about training officers, he said: "The thrust of it is at all costs we try to avoid pursuing vehicles because it's so dangerous. Instead we would try putting in place tactics to stop a vehicle without pursuing it."

He said: "The options have to be agreed in the control room and if the tactics failed or could not be deployed and the vehicle made off, there would have to be another level of authorisation of the pursuit." Mr Faulkner also said officers were trained to determine if it was necessary to pursue a vehicle.

"If you knew who the driver was, you could wait until tomorrow and knock at their home address," he said.

The inquest heard there was a difference between a vehicle being pursued and followed – and that officers could use their own discretion to follow a vehicle. Mr John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, asked what the provision was for following a vehicle down the wrong side of the road.

"There wasn't one," Mr Faulkner replied. "It's a nightmare scenario. The APCO (Associated Chief Police Officers) guidelines say use your discretion to follow on the right side of the road. But following takes people's attention away from oncoming vehicles and instead on the police car's blue lights."

On Monday, the jury heard how during the pursuit Mr Boswell had driven on the wrong side of the road and Pc Mark Gallacher followed, also on the wrong side of the road.

Yesterday speaking in relation to policing guidelines, Mr Faulkner said: "You do not follow a subject on the wrong side of the carriageway. The guidelines are to follow it on the correct side of the carriageway."

However, Mr Faulker said there are "always exceptional circumstances".

"What we teach is guidance. If you step out of guidance you have to justify it. That policy is there to protect you so be prepared to justify it," said Mr Faulkner. "You have to make your mind up at that time and you have to think if it's the right thing to do. You have to be very sure as you will face serious consequences."

The hearing continues.