The tragic passing of an 18-year-old moped rider during a chase involving a Metropolitan Police officer revealed significant shortcomings in the training provided to the police force, a coroner cautioned.
Lewis Johnson died in February 2016 after colliding with a traffic light pole while transporting a passenger in Clapton Common, east London, as they attempted to flee from authorities over suspected mobile phone thefts.
The officer pursued the moped for over three minutes, often tailing “too closely,” which increased pressure on Johnson and impaired his judgment, as determined by an inquest jury.
Senior coroner Mary Hassell stated that this incident highlighted the Metropolitan Police’s failure “to effectively implement, disseminate, and train relevant personnel.”
During the inquest, it was revealed that the police officer did not possess the necessary qualifications mandated by the force’s regulations to engage in motorcycle pursuits.
The chase occurred due to “a lack of awareness” among the officer, vehicle operator, and staff in the Met control room, as well as “insufficient communication” regarding established policies.
The jury also identified that the pursuing officer missed several opportunities to mitigate risks to both Mr. Johnson and the general public during the chase.
Ms. Hassell reiterated the jury’s findings, emphasizing the Met’s ineffective training and dissemination of relevant policy information to its staff, and she urged steps to be taken to avert similar tragedies in the future.
She remarked, “The evidence presented in court suggested an inconsistent understanding among police officers regarding the timeframe typically needed for a police controller to authorize a pursuit.
“While I do not advocate for a strict time limit, it would be beneficial for the expectations regarding the timing of decision-making in police control to be more aligned between those in the control room and the officers awaiting these decisions in pursuit vehicles.”
The cause of Mr. Johnson’s death was determined to be blunt abdominal trauma with an aortic rupture.
Copies of the coroner’s report on preventing future deaths were distributed to the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Mr. Johnson’s mother, the head of the police oversight body – the Independent Office for Police Conduct – and the chief coroner for England and Wales.
In October 2021, PC Paul Summerson was acquitted of causing Mr. Johnson’s death through dangerous driving following a trial at Kingston Crown Court. He was also found not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to his passenger, Louis Kyriacou.
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for a statement.
