First reported 3 Mar 2022•Latest report 25 Jun 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated spontaneous police-pursuit safety system, including national or force-level risk evaluation and analytical feedback, clear definitions and guidance, driver and control-room training, staffing and monitoring arrangements, and review of pursuit outcomes and effectiveness.
Not included
Excludes ordinary police driving, vehicle, road-layout or general emergency-response deficiencies that are not specifically tied to spontaneous police pursuits.
Excludes generic police training, staffing, data or governance failures unless they directly impair the safety governance of spontaneous police pursuits.
Excludes individual pursuit decisions or collision outcomes where no continuing deficiency in the spontaneous-pursuit safety system is identified.
Excludes other pursuit types unless the assertion explicitly concerns spontaneous police pursuits or the same dedicated spontaneous-pursuit controls.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
4
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2022–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
12
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
College of Policing1
Independent Office for Police Conduct1
West Yorkshire Combined Authority1
West Yorkshire Police1
Mayoral policing body1
National policing body1
Police force1
Police oversight body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Inconsistent training of standard police drivers on spontaneous pursuits
Lack of consistent APP guidance on when a spontaneous pursuit can occur
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Review current police pursuit training requirements, including national standards and authorised training arrangements.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Action
Continue working with NPCC leads and police forces to align national guidance and training with best practice and safe operational decision-making.
Stated by College of PolicingStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Action
Continue monitoring and addressing inconsistencies in police pursuit training delivery through quality-assurance frameworks and feedback mechanisms.
Stated by College of PolicingStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Action
Disseminate learning from the case nationally through operational learning channels, bulletins, and training-material updates.
Stated by College of PolicingStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Action
Review the current Police Pursuit APP guidance and identify ambiguity in the term “spontaneous pursuit”.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Action
Progress an amendment to replace “spontaneous pursuit” with clearer guidance aligned with the National Decision Model.
Stated by College of PolicingStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 September 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Chief Officers are responsible for arranging pursuit-driver selection, training and authorisation, and determining operational deployment in accordance with national standards.
Stated by College of PolicingRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised2
Insufficiently refined parameters and guidance for spontaneous police pursuits in residential areas
Lack of statistical evidence and analytical feedback for evaluating the risks and effectiveness of spontaneous police pursuits
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Re-evaluate local pursuit arrangements.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Action
Liaise with national pursuit and driving standards leads to assess compliance with national standards.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Action
Record all pursuits in Chronicle and provide the data quarterly to the National Pursuits Group.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Action
Discuss reconfiguring Chronicle to record whether pursuits result in arrests.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Action
Collaborate with the National Pursuit Group on routine pursuit debriefing and adapt local practice accordingly.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Action
Assess trends in pursuit outcomes and their links to driver training and national standards.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 March 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Existing dynamic risk assessment, trained decision-makers and ground commander primacy are retained rather than imposing more limited pursuit parameters.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Redefining pursuit parameters using statistical data requires national-level discussion to ensure consistency across police forces.
Stated by West Yorkshire PoliceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Operational policing, including spontaneous pursuits, is assigned to the Chief Constable, while the Mayor’s role is limited to accountability without fettering operational independence.
Stated by Tracy BrabinRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes failures in the dedicated spontaneous police-pursuit safety system, including national or force-level risk evaluation and analytical feedback, clear definitions and guidance, driver and control-room training, staffing and monitoring arrangements, and review of pursuit outcomes and effectiveness.
