Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has issued a report strongly critical of the PSNI's vehicle pursuit policy after a 19-year-old man drowned in a stream following a collision with a police car two years ago.
Mrs O'Loan complained of the inadequacy of police procedures and training for vehicle pursuits but found no evidence of misconduct by any of the officers involved in what she described as a "tragic accident".
Raymond Robinson from north Belfast drowned in shallow water after becoming trapped under a police car in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim, on April 24th, 2004.
Police had pursued him as he drove into, and then made off on foot, across grass into an area known as The Glen.
Mr Robinson then became trapped when the police car slid down a steep 12-15 foot bank and landed on top of him in a stream known locally as the Threemilewater.
Police officers tried but failed to free Mr Robinson and provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the Ombudsman reported.
Police had been trying to stop Mr Robinson after receiving reports that a white Seat Toledo car matching the description of his vehicle was being driven erratically in the area.
A postmortem report revealed that he had twice the legal driving limit of alcohol in his bloodstream at the time of his death, as well as traces of solvents and cannabis.
On her recommendation, the PSNI is now preparing a new pursuit policy.
