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Two police officers have been given misconduct notices over their handling of a pursuit that ended in the death of a teenage girl on the M5 motorway. The officers, who have not been named, were involved in the pursuit of a car in which the 15-year-old girl was a passenger.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when the car, which was being driven by a 22-year-old man, failed to stop for police. The officers pursued the car, which eventually crashed on the M5, resulting in the death of the teenage girl.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been investigating the incident and has now given misconduct notices to the two police officers involved. The notices indicate that the officers' actions may have fallen below the expected standards of professional behavior.
The IOPC investigation has focused on the actions of the police officers during the pursuit, including their decision to initiate and continue the pursuit, as well as their handling of the incident after the crash.
The family of the teenage girl has been informed of the misconduct notices and is being kept updated on the progress of the investigation. The IOPC has also apologized to the family for the death of their loved one and has assured them that the investigation will be thorough and transparent.
The police force involved in the incident has also issued a statement expressing its regret over the death of the teenage girl and confirming that it is cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of police pursuits and the risks they pose to innocent members of the public. The IOPC investigation is expected to examine the policies and procedures in place for police pursuits and to make recommendations for improving the safety of these operations.
The use of police pursuits is a contentious issue, with some arguing that they are necessary to prevent crime and protect the public, while others claim that they pose an unacceptable risk to innocent people. The IOPC investigation into the death of the teenage girl on the M5 is expected to shed more light on this issue and to inform the development of policies and procedures for police pursuits.
The investigation is ongoing, and the IOPC is expected to publish its findings in due course. The police officers who have been given misconduct notices will face a disciplinary hearing, which will determine whether their actions fell below the expected standards of professional behavior.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and complexities involved in police pursuits and the need for careful consideration and planning to minimize the risks to innocent members of the public.
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