Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Brandon Pryde and David Faulkner

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0250, written 12 Aug 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report12 Aug 2022
Reference2022-0250
DeceasedBrandon Pryde and David Faulkner
CoronerAdrian Farrow
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryRoad (Highways Safety) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published4

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS THIS 

REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1. CHIEF CONSTABLE, GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE, GMP

HEADQUARTERS, NORTHAMPTON RD, MANCHESTER M40 5BP;

2. 

, ROADS and CRIME UNIT & RESPONSE, 

CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY, CLEMONDS HEY, OAKMERE ROAD, 
WINSFORD, CW7 2UA. 

1 

CORONER 

I am Adrian Farrow, Assistant Coroner, for the Coroner area of Manchester South. 

2 

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7 
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made 

3 

INVESTIGATIONS and INQUESTS 

On 28th  May 2021 an investigation was commenced into the death of Brandon James 
Pryde, otherwise known as Brandon Geasley. The investigation concluded at the end of 
the Inquest on 8th  July 2022. The conclusion of the Inquest was that he died from 
multiple injuries in a road traffic collision. 

On 28th  May 2021, an investigation was commenced into the death of David Ernest 
Faulkner. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 14th  July 2022. The 
conclusion of the Inquest was that he died from multiple injuries in a road traffic 
collision in which his car was struck by a car which was being driven at speed on 
the wrong carriageway of a motorway. 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATHS 

The deaths of Brandon Pryde and Ernest Faulkner arose out of the same road traffic 
collision on 27th  May 2021 on the M60 motorway between junctions 1 and 27 at Stockport. 

A BMW X4 SUV that had been stolen earlier that day in Stockport was seen by a police 
officer at about 8.30pm in the Wythenshawe area and officers of the Greater Manchester 
Police Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit (“TVIU”) went to that area later that evening to try to 
locate and recover the vehicle. At about 9.50pm, the BMW was seen by a TVIU patrol, now 
bearing false number plates. Brandon Pryde was the driver of the BMW at that time. 

The BMW drove away from the TVIU car at speed and a spontaneous pursuit began. The 
TVIU officer was trained in both initial and tactical pursuit and self-authorised the pursuit, 
which began on A roads towards the motorway network at speeds around 70 mph. 
The pursuit was monitored by the GMP control room operators, who alerted the Force Duty 
Supervisor to the pursuit. That officer began to monitor the pursuit, which moved onto the 
M56 motorway just over a minute after it commenced. 

Once on the motorway, the speed of the BMW increased to over 100 mph, reaching 
speeds of 130 mph. The TVIU car travelled at similar speeds in pursuit. The weather 
1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 conditions were described as clear and dry and the motorway traffic was light, but the 
dashcam and CCTV footage showed that there were a number of other vehicles, including 
the Vauxhall Insignia driven by David Faulkner, travelling in the same direction as the 
pursuit, with the BMW and TVIU car predominantly in the outside lane as they travelled 
onto and along the M60 towards Stockport. 

The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did not take any active role in the supervision of the 
pursuit, assuming that as the pursuit had joined the motorway network, that the equivalent 
officer of the North West Motorway Patrol Group (“NWMPG”) had taken over the 
supervision of the pursuit. Although the NWMPG control room was aware of and monitoring 
the pursuit during the time that it was on the motorway network, the Supervisor was 
undertaking their assessment of the situation and did not take control of the pursuit. 

David Faulkner’s car was overtaken by the pursuit. Although other police patrols followed, 
none was in a position to be part of the active pursuit. 

A trained GMP Tactical Advisor did give advice to deploy a stinger device and containment 
and if the BMW were to attempt to travel in the wrong direction (“go contra”), to consider 
tactical contact if safe to do so. 

The BMW left the motorway at junction 27 and was lost from the sight of the following TVIU 
car. The pursuit had been in progress for approximately 4 minutes by this time. 20 seconds 
later, as a GMP dog van patrol arrived at the end of the slip road at junction 27, the BMW 
was driven past the police van, back up the slip road to re-join the M60, but now travelling 
in the opposite direction, against the flow of traffic. It drove in the outside lane at speed 
past a second TVIU car (which was travelling in the correct direction), before moving to the 
inside lane and into collision with the Vauxhall Insignia driven by Mr. Faulkner in the middle 
lane about 550 metres from the point at which the BMW had re-joined the M60 
carriageway. 

The three police vehicles had begun to follow in the same direction, but on the parallel, 
correct carriageway of the motorway. 

The topography and relative speeds of the vehicles meant that neither Mr. Faulkner nor Mr. 
Pryde had any opportunity to avoid the collision which had an estimated closing speed of at 
least 150 mph and which resulted in an extremely forceful impact, causing destructive 
damage to both vehicles and fatal injuries to both drivers, who died at the scene. 

5 

CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the Inquests the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In 
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. 

I received evidence in both inquests that there is a Protocol between GMP and NWMPG 
(which is based at the Cheshire Constabulary) dated June 2015 in accordance with the 
College of Police Authorised Professional Practice for Police Pursuits, for the Command and 
Control of pursuits. That Protocol is intended to provide a mechanism for Command and 
Control to be undertaken and transferred between GMP and NWMPG when pursuits move 
between the normal road network and the motorway network, so that Command and Control 
is maintained throughout. The Supervising Officer in the control room has the authority to 
direct that a pursuit be discontinued if they assess that it is right to do so, having regard to 
all of the circumstances which are known to them, which may include information not 
immediately available to the police officer(s) involved in the pursuit. 

Although I found that the absence of any control-room Command and Control had not 
contributed to either death in this case, the following matters gave rise to concern, having 
regard to the inherent risk of pursuits, which are likely to move between ordinary road and 
motorway networks in the Greater Manchester area; 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (1) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor assumed that the NWMPG Supervisor had taken

Command and Control when they had not done so;

(2) The NWPGM Supervisor did not communicate whether they had taken Command

and Control clearly;

(3) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did not consider that they had any authority to
perform Command and Control of the pursuit once it had entered the motorway
network; and

(4) The Protocol did not operate in practice so that there was no effective Command

and Control at any point during the pursuit.

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you or your 
organisations have the power to take such action. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 7th October 2022. I, the coroner, may extend the period. 

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the 
timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 

8 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested 
Persons: Mr. Pryde’s Next of Kin, on behalf of the family of Brandon Pryde and Mr. 
Faulkner’s Next of Kin, on behalf of the family of David Faulkner. I have also sent a copy 
to the Chief Executive Officer of the College of Policing, Leamington Rd, Ryton-on-
Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3EN who may find it useful or of interest. 

I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all 
interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. 

I may also send a copy of your response to any other person who I believe may find it 
useful or of interest. 

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary 
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful 
or of interest. 

You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about 
the release or the publication of your response. 

9 

Adrian Farrow 
HM Assistant Coroner 

12.08.2022 

3

Responses

4 responses published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Cheshire Constabulary (PDF)
_______________________________________________________ 

CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY 

Regulation 28 Response 

_______________________________________________________ 

Cheshire Constabulary acknowledges the points raised by His Majesty’s Coroner following the inquests 
into the deaths of David Faulkner and Brandon Pryde. 

The North West Motorway Patrol Group (hitherto known as NWMPG) is a police collaboration of three 
North-West forces including Greater Manchester Police (hitherto known as GMP).  The collaboration 
is led by Cheshire Constabulary under which, a regional control centre coordinates and directs the 
policing  response  to  all  incidents occurring on  the  strategic  roads  network  within  the  area  of  the 
collaboration only. The NWPMG is a communications, command and control collaboration. 

Cheshire Constabulary and the NWMPG adhere to the Authorised Professional Practice published by 
The College of Policing for the management of all police pursuits. In line with this guidance, pursuits 
are authorised and commanded by the most appropriate authority, an appropriately trained operator 
within the control room. 

If a pursuit  moves  from one  command  area to  another,  or the  pursuit  commences on a different 
command area to which the communication platform is aligned then communications links will be 
established between the respective control rooms, but the command and control will remain with the 
originating authority until such a point in time as is deemed appropriate by the respective control 
room supervisors to hand over command and control. 

It is the agreed position of NWMPG and the three forces involved within the collaboration that when 
a  pursuit  enters  the  strategic  road  network  then  the  transfer  of  command  will  commence  when 
communicated between the originating force and the NWMPG. 

In response to the areas of concern raised in the Regulation 28 notice, namely: 

(1) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor assumed that the NWMPG Supervisor had taken Command and 
Control when they had not done so; 

(2)  The  NWPGM  Supervisor  did not  communicate whether  they  had taken Command and Control 
clearly; 

(3) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did not consider that they had any authority to perform Command 
and Control of the pursuit once it had entered the motorway network; and 

(4) The Protocol did not operate in practice so that there was no effective Command and Control at 
any point during the pursuit. 

Cheshire  Constabulary  acting  as  lead  force  on  behalf  of  the  collaborative  forces  is  committed  to 
ensuring continuous professional development and training for all staff within the regional control 
centre. 

The  NWMPG  governance  board  chaired  by  Assistant  Chief  Constable 
 (Chief  Officer  lead) 
convened on 28 September 2022 and each lead officer for the tri-force collaboration committed to 
delivering  a  training  package  in  relation  with  command  protocols  for  cross  border  pursuits.  This 
training will ensure awareness of the requisite protocols. The progress of the roll out of training will 
be tracked at the bi-monthly governance meetings moving forward. 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cheshire  Constabulary  are  aware  of  the  enhanced  training  package  by  GMP  pursuit  management 
working group. As part of the strategic oversight the governance board of the NWMPG will monitor 
and  share  feedback  from  GMP  training  package  and  disseminate  best  practice  throughout  the 
collaboration. 

Cheshire Police (on behalf of the NWMPG) and GMP have revised the managing pursuits protocol and 
produced a clearer document which removes the previous ambiguity on the issue of Command and 
Control.  This  document  will  be  circulated  to  all  NWMPG  control  room  staff  involved  in  the 
management of police pursuits. 

It is expected that measures will promote a standard operating procedure to address fully the four 
areas of concern highlighted by His Majesty’s Assistant Coroner Adrian Farrow. 

Dated: 29 September 2022 

Signed: 

Superintendent (Roads and Crime Response Unit) 

Cheshire Constabulary 

For and on behalf of: North West Motorway Patrol Group
Response from Cheshire Constabulary 1 1 (PDF)
_______________________________________________________ 

CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY 

Regulation 28 Response 

_______________________________________________________ 

Cheshire Constabulary acknowledges the points raised by His Majesty’s Coroner following the inquests 
into the deaths of David Faulkner and Brandon Pryde. 

The North West Motorway Patrol Group (hitherto known as NWMPG) is a police collaboration of three 
North-West forces including Greater Manchester Police (hitherto known as GMP).  The collaboration 
is led by Cheshire Constabulary under which, a regional control centre coordinates and directs the 
policing  response  to  all  incidents occurring on  the  strategic  roads  network  within  the  area  of  the 
collaboration only. The NWPMG is a communications, command and control collaboration. 

Cheshire Constabulary and the NWMPG adhere to the Authorised Professional Practice published by 
The College of Policing for the management of all police pursuits. In line with this guidance, pursuits 
are authorised and commanded by the most appropriate authority, an appropriately trained operator 
within the control room. 

If a pursuit  moves  from one  command  area to  another,  or the  pursuit  commences on a different 
command area to which the communication platform is aligned then communications links will be 
established between the respective control rooms, but the command and control will remain with the 
originating authority until such a point in time as is deemed appropriate by the respective control 
room supervisors to hand over command and control. 

It is the agreed position of NWMPG and the three forces involved within the collaboration that when 
a  pursuit  enters  the  strategic  road  network  then  the  transfer  of  command  will  commence  when 
communicated between the originating force and the NWMPG. 

In response to the areas of concern raised in the Regulation 28 notice, namely: 

(1) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor assumed that the NWMPG Supervisor had taken Command and 
Control when they had not done so; 

(2)  The  NWPGM  Supervisor  did not  communicate whether  they  had taken Command and Control 
clearly; 

(3) The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did not consider that they had any authority to perform Command 
and Control of the pursuit once it had entered the motorway network; and 

(4) The Protocol did not operate in practice so that there was no effective Command and Control at 
any point during the pursuit. 

Cheshire  Constabulary  acting  as  lead  force  on  behalf  of  the  collaborative  forces  is  committed  to 
ensuring continuous professional development and training for all staff within the regional control 
centre. 

The  NWMPG  governance  board  chaired  by  Assistant  Chief  Constable 
 (Chief  Officer  lead) 
convened on 28 September 2022 and each lead officer for the tri-force collaboration committed to 
delivering  a  training  package  in  relation  with  command  protocols  for  cross  border  pursuits.  This 
training will ensure awareness of the requisite protocols. The progress of the roll out of training will 
be tracked at the bi-monthly governance meetings moving forward. 

A4 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cheshire  Constabulary  are  aware  of  the  enhanced  training  package  by  GMP  pursuit  management 
working group. As part of the strategic oversight the governance board of the NWMPG will monitor 
and  share  feedback  from  GMP  training  package  and  disseminate  best  practice  throughout  the 
collaboration. 

Cheshire Police (on behalf of the NWMPG) and GMP have revised the managing pursuits protocol and 
produced a clearer document which removes the previous ambiguity on the issue of Command and 
Control.  This  document  will  be  circulated  to  all  NWMPG  control  room  staff  involved  in  the 
management of police pursuits. 

It is expected that measures will promote a standard operating procedure to address fully the four 
areas of concern highlighted by His Majesty’s Assistant Coroner Adrian Farrow. 

Dated: 29 September 2022 

Signed: 

Superintendent (Roads and Crime Response Unit) 

Cheshire Constabulary 

For and on behalf of: North West Motorway Patrol Group 

A5
Response from Greater Manchester Police (PDF)
GREATER MANCHESTER

POLICE ©

Chief Constable

Mr Adrian Farrow
HM Coroners Office
1 Mount Tabor Street
Stockport
SK1 3AG
30 September 2022

Dear Mr Farrow

Re Regulation 28 report following the inquest into the deaths of Brandon James Pryde
(Brandon Geasley) and David Ernest Faulkner

Thank you for your report dated 12 August 2022 in respect of the tragic deaths of Brandon James
Pryde (Brandon Geasley) and David Ernest Faulkner and pursuant to Regulations 28 and 29 of
the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 and Paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners
and Justice Act 2009.

Having carefully considered your report and the evidence submitted at the inquest | make the
following observations and recommendations to hopefully address the areas of concern.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) use the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) as the relevant
guidance for the management of police pursuits.

GMP is part of a collaboration with other Northwest forces in respect of policing the motorway
network. The collaboration is known as the Northwest Motorway Patrol Group (NWMPG) and is
managed by Cheshire Police. The NWMPG is a communications and command and control
collaboration rather than a fully integrated operational collaboration.

It is the position of GMP that pursuits should be authorised and commanded by the most
appropriate authority in the specific circumstances as they are presented. This is an agreed
position with the NWMPG.

GMP accepts that during this pursuit, no authority accepted formal responsibility to authorise or
command the pursuit prior to the collision, other than the pursuit commander, under appropriate
self-authorisation, in line with APP.

GMP agree with the coroners findings that this omission did not contribute to the outcome and
observe that, having reviewed similar pursuits, that failure to take command and control is not a
common issue.

GMP submits that, had the pursuit continued, there would have been further communication
between control rooms resulting in confirmation of which authority had command and control
responsibility. It was the relatively short nature of the pursuit that contributed to the omission.
Were this set of circumstances to arise in future pursuit situations the updated managing pursuit
protocol supported by the training being implemented would result in GMP taking command and
control responsibility.

Postal address: Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS

Al

Cont.d pg2 .....

Notwithstanding those observations, it is clear from the evidence that individuals within the
control room were not clear on the guidance set out in the managing pursuits protocol. It is also
acknowledged that the guidance itself could be clearer on the general principles of command
and control.

It is the case that guidance documents cannot cater for every specific situation and, to some
degree, must rely on subjective decision making of those in the control rooms as to who is the
most appropriate authority to accept and retain command and control in spontaneous pursuits.

It is the agreed position of GMP and the NWMPG that when a spontaneous pursuit is initiated
then the ‘Pursuit Commander’ will self-authorise until a control room supervisor is in a position
to take command and control of the pursuit.

Where a pursuit commences, the authorising authority shall be that upon which the Pursuit
Commander is communicating unless specifically instructed otherwise.

If a pursuit moves from one authority area to another, or the pursuit commences on a different
authority area to which the communication platform is aligned, then communications links will be
established between the respective control rooms, but the command and control will remain
with the originating authority until such a time is deemed appropriate by the respective control
room supervisors to hand over command and control.

In response to the below three areas of concern raised in the regulation 28 notice | make the
following observations;

The GMP Force Duty Supervisor assumed that the NWMPG Supervisor had taken
Command and Control when they had not done so.

The NWPGM Supervisor did not communicate whether they had taken Command and
Control clearly.

The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did not consider that they had any authority to perform
Command and Control of the pursuit once it had entered the motorway network.

GMP have committed to further training for all those who may be involved in the command and
control of police pursuits. It was identified that whilst drivers had received significant investment
over recent years this had not been the case for officers and staff engaged on the command-
and-control element of pursuit management.

GMP now has a Pursuit Management Working Group which is leading on a review and re-
development of training for dispatch operators and commanders. The below is a summary of
the current position:

e A 1-day initial pursuit course has been devised by the Driver Training Unit. This will be
delivered to Supervisors and operators involved in the management of initial phase
pursuit and will align with training provided to Police drivers who have completed the
Initial Pursuit course (IPP). A training schedule is being drawn up now for delivery
anticipated to be completed within the next 6-9 months due to high numbers requiring
training.

Postal address: Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS a2

Cont.d pg 3.....

e A 4-day tactical phase commanders’ course is in the final stages of design by the Driver
Training Unit and Command Training (Specialist Operations). This will be delivered to
the 8 Force Duty Officers (FDO) and 7 Assistant Force Duty Officers (AFDO) within
GMP. This will enable a policy change with the authorisation of pursuits moving from the
Force Duty Supervisor to the FDO/AFDO role. A training schedule is being drawn up and
delivery anticipated within the next 6 months.

e Training for Team 3 dispatch operators — those managing specialist resources — is being
designed. Delivery of this is planned to take place within the next 6-9 months.

e Accreditation, re-training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) are in design
and final details will be confirmed through the working group.

This training will include revised guidance in relation to the command protocols for cross border
pursuits, and specifically the nuance of the NWMPG collaboration. Training will be given to new
staff and refreshed with those who remain in their role.

The Protocol did not operate in practice so that there was no effective Command and
Control at any point during the pursuit.

As a result of this tragic incident GMP and Cheshire Police (on behalf of the NWMPG) have
revised the managing pursuits protocol and produced a clearer document which removes the
previous ambiguity on the issue of Command and Control. This document will be circulated to all
GMP control room staff involved in the management of police pursuits.

Yours sincerely,

Chief Constable

Postal address: Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS A3
Response from Greater Manchester Police (PDF)
GREATER MANCHESTER 

POLICE 

30 September 2022 

Chief Constable 

Mr Adrian  Farrow 
HM  Coroners Office 
1 Mount Tabor Street 
Stockport 
SK13AG 

Dear Mr Farrow 

Re  Regulation  28  report  following  the  inquest  into the  deaths  of  Brandon  James  Pryde 
(Brandon Geasley) and David Ernest Faulkner 

Thank you for your report dated 12 August 2022 in respect of the tragic deaths of Brandon James 
Pryde  (Brandon Geasley)  and  David  Ernest Faulkner and  pursuant to Regulations 28 and  29  of 
the  Coroners (Investigations)  Regulations  2013 and  Paragraph  7, Schedule 5,  of the  Coroners 
and Justice Act 2009. 

Having  carefully  considered  your report  and  the  evidence  submitted  at  the  inquest  I make  the 
following  observations and recommendations to hopefully address the areas of concern. 

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) use the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) as the relevant 
guidance for the management of police pursuits. 

GMP  is  part of a collaboration  with  other Northwest forces  in  respect  of  policing  the  motorway 
network.  The collaboration  is known as the  Northwest Motorway Patrol Group (NWMPG)  and  is 
managed  by  Cheshire  Police.  The  NWMPG  is  a  communications  and  command  and  control 
collaboration  rather than a fully integrated operational collaboration. 

It  is  the  position  of  GMP  that  pursuits  should  be  authorised  and  commanded  by  the  most 
appropriate  authority  in  the  specific  circumstances  as  they  are  presented.  This  is  an  agreed 
position with the  NWMPG. 

GMP accepts that during this pursuit, no authority accepted formal  responsibility to  authorise or 
command the  pursuit prior to the collision,  other than the  pursuit commander, under appropriate 
self-authorisation,  in  line with APP . 

GMP agree with the coroners findings that this  omission  did  not contribute to the outcome and 
observe that, having reviewed similar pursuits, that failure to take command and control is not a 
common issue. 

GMP  submits  that,  had  the  pursuit  continued ,  there  would  have  been  further  communication 
between  control  rooms  resulting  in  confirmation  of which  authority  had  command  and  control 
responsibility.  It was  the  relatively  short nature  of the  pursuit that  contributed  to  the  omission. 
Were this set of circumstances to arise in future pursuit situations the updated managing pursuit 
protocol supported by the training being  implemented would  result in GMP taking  command and 
control responsibility. 

Postal address:  Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11  2NS 

 
 Cont.d pg2  ..... 

Notwithstanding those observations, it is clear from the evidence that individuals within the 
control room were not clear on the guidance set out in the managing pursuits protocol.  It is also 
acknowledged that the guidance itself could be clearer on the general principles of command 
and control. 

It is the case that guidance documents cannot cater for every specific situation and, to some 
degree, must rely on  subjective decision making of those in the control rooms as to who is the 
most appropriate authority to accept and retain  command and control in spontaneous pursuits. 

It is the agreed position of GMP and the NWMPG that when a spontaneous pursuit is initiated 
then the  'Pursuit Commander' will self-authorise until a control room supervisor is in a position 
to take command and control  of the pursuit. 

Where a pursuit commences, the authorising authority shall be that upon which the Pursuit 
Commander is communicating unless specifically instructed otherwise. 

· 

If a pursuit moves from  one authority area to another, or the pursuit commences on a different 
authority area to which the communication platform is aligned, then communications links will be 
established between the respective control rooms, but the command and control will remain 
with the originating authority until such a time is deemed appropriate by the respective control 
room supervisors to hand over command and control. 

In  response to the below three areas of concern raised in the regulation 28  notice I make the 
following observations; 

The  GMP  Force  Duty  Supervisor  assumed  that  the  NWMPG  Supervisor  had  taken 
Command and Control when they had not done so. 

The  NWPGM  Supervisor  did  not  communicate  whether  they  had  taken  Command  and 
Control clearly. 

The GMP Force Duty Supervisor did  not consider that they had  any authority to perform 
Command and Control of the pursuit once it had entered the motorway network. 

GMP have committed to further training for all those who may be involved in the command  and 
control of police pursuits.  It was identified that whilst drivers had received significant investment 
over recent years this had not been the case for officers and staff engaged on the command­
and-control element of pursuit management. 

GMP now has a Pursuit Management Working Group which  is leading on  a review and re­
development of training for dispatch operators and commanders. The below is a summary of 
the current position: 

•  A  1-day initial pursuit course has been devised by the Driver Training Unit. This will  be 
delivered to Supervisors and operators involved in the management of initial phase 
pursuit and will align with training provided to  Police drivers who have completed the 
Initial Pursuit course (IPP). A training schedule is being drawn up now for delivery 
anticipated to be completed within the next 6-9 months due to high numbers requiring 
training. 

Postal address:  Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex,  Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11  2NS 

 Contd pg  3  .. . .. 

•  A 4-day tactical phase commanders' course is in the final stages of design by the Driver 
Training  Unit and Command Training (Specialist Operations).  This  will be delivered to 
the 8 Force Duty Officers (FOO)  and 7 Assistant Force Duty Officers (AFDO)  within 
GMP.  This will enable a policy change with the authorisation of pursuits moving from the 
Force Duty Supervisor to the FDOIAFDO role. A training schedule is being drawn up and 
delivery anticipated within the next 6 months. 

•  Training for Team 3 dispatch operators - those managing specialist resources - is being 

designed. Delivery of this is planned to take place within the next 6-9 months. 

•  Accreditation, re-training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)  are in design 

and final details will be confirmed through the working group. 

This training will  include revised guidance in  relation to the command protocols for cross border 
pursuits, and specifically the nuance of the NWMPG collaboration.  Training will  be given to new 
staff and  refreshed with those who remain in their role. 

The  Protocol  did  not  operate  in  practice  so  that  there  was  no  effective  Command  and 
Control at any point during the pursuit. 

As  a  result  of this  tragic  incident  GMP  and  Cheshire  Police  (on  behalf of the  NWMPG)  have 
revised  the  managing  pursuits  protocol  and  produced  a  clearer  document  which  removes  the 
previous ambiguity on the issue of Command and Control. This document will be circulated to all 
GMP control room staff involved in the management of police pursuits. 

Chief Constable 

Postal address:  Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11  2NS

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