Gold Coast chase: Wild footage of controversial police pursuit tactic

A controversial tactic used by police in a wild pursuit on the Gold Coast is now subject to an internal investigation.

A wild police chase on the Gold Coast, which involved a controversial pursuit tactic, will be subject to an internal investigation, it can be revealed.

It is understood the dramatic police chase occurred at Broadbeach on Thursday night, May 11, with two boys aged 15 and 18 subsequently charged with a number of offences.

Footage of the chase shows police attempted the controversial precision immobilisation technique (PIT manoeuvre), where a pursuing vehicle forces a fleeing vehicle to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to lose control.

The Queensland Police Service’s Operational Procedures Manual states that: “Interception techniques which are intended to cause the driver of the pursued vehicle to lose control are prohibited (e.g. PIT manoeuvre)”.

Police pursue the allegedly stolen vehicle. Picture: Supplied

A police car can also be seen heading down the opposite side of the road with lights and sirens on.

A QPS spokeswoman said: “this matter is the subject of an internal investigation and at this time no further information can be released”.

Bond University criminologist and former police detective Terry Goldsworthy said although PIT manoeuvres were not illegal “police are not exempt from the dangerous driving provisions”.

“(PIT manoeuvres) are not necessarily illegal but it would depend on the circumstances and the context,” he said.

“Whether it would constitute dangerous driving or not would depend on individual circumstances … but it’s not something (police) teach.

“If you have got a car doing 180km down a highway you probably wouldn’t use it because it is going to result in that vehicle having a substantial crash.”

Asked about the Broadbeach incident, Dr Goldsworthy said the vehicle appears to be “travelling at low speed” and with “no traffic around”.

“That’s probably the circumstances where a (PIT manoeuvre) may be useful to utilise,” he said.

“What we are seeing in Queensland is that offenders just think they’ve got carte blanche when it comes to pursuits – we’ve now seen a number of pursuits from the Sunshine Coast to the border.

“(Offenders) cross the border and then within 10 minutes the New South Wales police have stopped the vehicle.

The moment police performed the controversial PIT manoeuvre. Picture: Supplied

Dr Goldsworthy said about one per cent of police pursuits ended with a fatal injury, but “those kind of outcomes are the exception, they are not the norm.”

“There’s nowhere I’m aware of, in terms of the law that says you can’t do a PIT manoeuvre,” he said.

The former officer said although PIT manoeuvres were not illegal, “police need to say it’s authorised, justified or excused in the circumstances”.

“Police aren’t exempt from the dangerous driving provisions, they can exceed speed limits, they can breach various aspects of the traffic regulations but they are not excused from dangerous driving,” he said.

Queensland Police Service officials did not respond to questions about whether the pursuit or PIT manoeuvre were authorised in the Broadbeach chase.

The pursuit continues after the manoeuvre fails. Picture: Supplied

But Dr Goldsworthy said, in certain circumstances, police should be allowed to engage in the manoeuvre “without having to worry about the provisions of dangerous driving”.

“(Police) would need to be trained adequately and the vehicle structurally sound … otherwise you are going to end up with a whole heap of damaged police cars,” he said.

An 18-year-old man from Broadbeach has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter dwelling and commit, attempted Enter dwelling with intent at night, enter premises and commit indictable offence by break, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle use in the night, evasion offence and driving a motor vehicle without a licence.

He is scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates court on June 23.

A 15-year-old Laidley boy has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company and attempted enter dwelling in company at night.

He will appear at the Southport Children’s Court at a later date.

Originally published as Gold Coast chase: Wild footage of controversial police pursuit tactic