Onese Power

• I GAVE evidence at the recent reopened inquest into the death of Onese Power back in 1997, (Onese Power inquest: ‘Duration and intensity’ of police pursuit contributed to death, March 14).

My family and I were the cyclists caught up in the police chase which ended with Mr Power’s death. His widow has concluded that her husband was chased to his death.

The jury found that the risk of the chase was inadequately assessed and not communicated to the central command, and that this was a contributory factor to the collision which ended Mr Power’s life.

The spokesperson for the Met said that policies and procedures have been reviewed many times since 1997.

However, the family’s barrister in his summing-up referred to the recent decision of the Met to allow chasing police to knock suspects off their motorbikes.

This rule change, when considered with the ongoing statistics of deaths and serious injuries of innocent third parties caught up in police chases, suggests the police have learned little in the last 20 years.

I sincerely hope that the Met will, as they promise, “carefully consider the jury’s findings to see if there is more (they) could and should do to ensure pursuits are carried out as safely as possible”.

I particularly urge them to consider the safety of those with disabilities who cannot perceive or react to the danger of pursuits.

CLLR SIMON PEARSON
Labour, Swiss Cottage ward