Viktoria Was · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 7th January 2013 an investigation commenced into the death of Viktoria WAS, dob 9th July 1999. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 8th May 2015. The conclusion of the jury at the inquest was one of a Road Traffic Collision.

On 6th January 2013 at 18:54 hours at the junction of Ilderton Road and Surrey Canal Road, as a result of a road traffic collision between a Peugeot being driven dangerously and at high speed by a wanted suspect without due regard for others, and a Volkswagen Polo, in which she was a rear seat passenger, being driven lawfully and safely by her parents, Miss Viktoria Was lost her life.

At the time of the collision, the Peugeot was being pursued at speed by a marked Police Car. It was being driven appropriately but had not fully complied with the Police Driver & Vehicle – Pursuits – Standard Operating Procedure (‘SOP’).

(1) At the point of impact and for an unsatisfactory period of time thereafter, there was insufficient regard to Viktoria Was and her family. There were a number of officers immediately at the scene, and all focus appears to have been on the wanted suspect to the exclusion of injured third parties. A call for an ambulance, without further initial enquiry to third parties, whilst the pursuit continued for a number of hours was inadequate.
(2) Evidence was placed before me from other unrelated deaths in police pursuits. There was an insufficiency of material to satisfactorily conclude that lessons had been learnt about police pursuits.
(3) Police Officers were not required to attend for sufficient ‘refresher’ training; either at all, at satisfactory intervals, or of a sufficiently rigorous nature. This revealed a gap in continued learning and skills updates. In this regard, I would be concerned to learn if lessons to be learnt from this investigation about the potential impact of police pursuits on third parties were not disseminated to officers as soon as reasonably possible.