Police officers who pursued stolen car which crashed into Sunderland care home acted in "exemplary" way
An official investigation after a stolen car smashed into a care home has found pursuing police officers' behaviour was "exemplary".
An official investigation after a stolen car smashed into a care home has found pursuing police officers' behaviour was "exemplary".
A BMW, stolen during a test drive in Newcastle, collided at speed with Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, on the evening of July 10 after it was followed by police for around four minutes.
Officers were treating the case as a possible kidnapping as the occupants had driven off with an unrelated member of the public.
Two elderly residents of the care home suffered broken bones and the building had to be evacuated due to the structural damage which caused a ceiling to collapse.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an inquiry into the police pursuit, and it found the Northumbria Police officers behaved in an exemplary manner.
IOPC director Emily Barry said: "This must have been a terrifying incident, particularly for the care home residents and staff, and my thoughts are with all those affected.
"Our independent investigation has made clear that the responsibility for this collision, and the resulting injuries, lies solely with the BMW driver, who had every opportunity to do the right thing and stop for police - but chose instead to put lives at risk.
"This was a thorough investigation, and I am grateful that all officers involved co-operated fully with our inquiries, which helped us conclude our work swiftly.
"The evidence shows that, despite being faced with an extremely challenging situation, all officers involved acted in an exemplary manner."
The investigation found that while speeds exceeded 90mph at times, the pursuit was justified and the police driver maintained a safe distance from the BMW.
Its 21-year-old driver, Sam Asgari-Tabar, was jailed for five years and two months at Newcastle Crown Court in November after pleading guilty to robbery and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Reece Parish, 21, of Fordham Road, Sunderland, was jailed for 19 months after pleading guilty to robbery. He was also sentenced to a further 18 months for violent disorder in Sunderland during last summer's riots.