Police pursuits fuel debate over road safety and enforcement

Growing concern has emerged over young people turning public roads into makeshift racetracks, performing wheelies, racing and other dangerous manoeuvres that put both their own lives and the safety of unsuspecting members of the public at risk.

The issue of police pursuits, as well as how such behaviour can be tackled without creating even greater risks, was discussed by ISOTITA union president Nikos Loizidis, transport expert Loukas Demetriou and journalist Dimitris Manousakis.

Seven cases where pursuits are permitted

Nikos Loizidis explained that a specific police directive sets out the circumstances under which a pursuit may take place.

These include the arrest of a person who has committed a serious offence, the execution of an arrest warrant, stopping a stolen or wanted vehicle, and situations where there is reasonable suspicion that people in a vehicle have committed or are about to commit an offence.

The conditions also cover drivers who leave the scene of a road collision, vehicles without registration plates or with fake plates, serious traffic offences and cases where a driver fails to stop after being instructed to do so by a police officer.

However, he stressed that beyond these conditions, the principle of proportionality must also be considered.

“Before starting a pursuit, we must weigh the risks that may arise for the suspect, the police officer and members of the public,” he said, noting that officers at the scene must assess the circumstances and available information before deciding whether to begin or end a pursuit.

Major problem with unregistered motorcycles

Loizidis highlighted the particular problem of motorcycles being driven without registration plates.

He said the union has submitted proposals to amend the legislation so that when such vehicles are seized, they would not be returned to their owners until the case has been heard. He also raised the possibility of cancelling their registration.

At the same time, he said installing cameras in patrol cars could make a significant contribution to tackling such incidents, whether involving a pursuit or a serious traffic offence committed in front of police officers.

Loizidis added that there are other operational measures that could be used, but said it would not be appropriate to disclose details that could compromise police operations.

A pursuit is not always the only solution

Loizidis explained that an offence committed in flagrante does not cease to exist simply because a police officer does not immediately begin a pursuit.

He gave the example of a motorcyclist passing a patrol car without a helmet and without registration plates before parking elsewhere. If the officer can identify the rider and link the person to the motorcycle and the offence, the necessary action can be taken without a dangerous pursuit necessarily being required.

Who makes the decision?

Journalist Dimitris Manousakis asked who ultimately decides whether to initiate a pursuit at a critical moment.

Loizidis initially explained that the police officer at the scene must make the immediate decision, as there is no time for lengthy procedures.

He later clarified that the officer first informs the control centre, from where a broader assessment begins, including whether the vehicle’s registration plates have been recorded, whether reinforcements are needed and what action should follow.

According to Loizidis, police officers are trained to assess circumstances quickly and determine which incidents may or may not justify a pursuit.

Other methods may be safer

Transport expert Loukas Demetriou agreed that the circumstances must always be weighed carefully.

He said that if a pursuit is likely to cause an even more serious incident, such as a collision, other methods of locating and arresting the offender may be preferable.

Demetriou described young people performing wheelies and racing on public roads as clearly antisocial and dangerous behaviour. He stressed that it could result not only in their own injury or death, but, more seriously, in innocent people being injured.

He also said society should not ignore the problem but should look for ways to prevent it.

Speed belongs on controlled tracks

Demetriou offered another perspective, saying that some people are interested in speed and that this interest could be channelled safely into specially designed facilities.

Such activities could take place on racing tracks or other controlled areas rather than on public roads.

He said tackling the phenomenon should begin with policing but also include education, public awareness and, where possible, the creation of safe spaces for activities that should not take place amid traffic.

“They play cops and robbers”

Asked whether increased surveillance and stricter fines could reduce the problem, Demetriou said such behaviour can sometimes involve a culture of confrontation with the Police.

Some young people, he said, view the situation as a “game of cops and robbers”, which forms part of a wider culture of dangerous behaviour.

However, he stressed that the police officer on the ground has to make critical decisions within seconds: whether to pursue a young rider while risking a serious collision, or use technical tools, cameras and other methods to identify the driver or vehicle and locate them later.

Demetriou stressed that he was not advocating inaction, pointing to other tools including camera surveillance, roadblocks and a more coordinated enforcement framework.

He added that such incidents are not isolated, with similar behaviour reported at locations in Nicosia and elsewhere.

Serious crime versus dangerous driving

Manousakis clarified that he was not advocating an end to all police pursuits.

He said there are circumstances in which a pursuit is necessary, such as when someone is believed to have been involved in a collision, left the scene or committed an offence and is attempting to escape.

A different approach may be appropriate, however, in the case of a young person performing a wheelie or committing another dangerous traffic offence when the person can potentially be identified later, reported and brought before the courts without a pursuit that could further increase the danger.

More officers and motorcycle units needed

Loizidis rejected the suggestion that the Police lack the operational capacity to deal with such incidents, arguing that officers are trained to operate in these circumstances.

He stressed, however, that more personnel are needed on the streets to tackle this type of offending.

According to Loizidis, more motorcycle officers, reinforcement of the Z Team and more police motorcycles on the roads are required.

Regarding equipment, he also called for consideration of legislation governing the use of specialised vehicle-stopping devices, such as spike strips used in other countries during serious pursuits.

“It’s not cool”

Demetriou placed particular emphasis on prevention and the need to change the way some young people perceive such behaviour.

He said society and the media should clearly portray these actions as antisocial and dangerous rather than as displays of strength or masculinity.

“That is not being cool,” was essentially his message, stressing that reckless behaviour on the roads is not a demonstration of driving ability but conduct that can have tragic consequences.

He said education, awareness and responsible coverage of the issue could help address the root of the problem: the perception some young people have of driving, speed and showing off on public roads.

“Everyone has families”

Closing the discussion, Manousakis sent a message to all sides, reminding people that there are individuals and families behind every incident.

Young motorcyclists have parents and families, just as police officers who may be called upon to pursue them have families of their own.

The same applies to other road users who may, through no fault of their own, suddenly find themselves facing a dangerous pursuit or a driver performing wheelies and racing.

The discussion concluded that tackling the phenomenon requires a combination of measures: more effective policing, greater use of technology and cameras, stronger police presence on the roads, strict enforcement of the law, as well as prevention and public awareness.

The ultimate aim is to stop public roads from being turned into racetracks and ensure dangerous displays do not claim another life.

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