Wild footage has captured the moment police deployed a controversial pursuit tactic to take down two teens in an allegedly stolen car on the Gold Coast.
Wild footage of two teenagers being chased by police on the Gold Coast, before a controversial police pursuit tactic is employed. Video: natstattooer/Instagram
It is understood the incident occurred at Broadbeach on Saturday night with two male teenagers aged 15 and 18 subsequently charged with a number of offences.
Footage of the incident 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.
Bond University criminologist and former police detective Dr Terry Goldsworthy said although PIT manoeuvres are 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.
Police pursue the allegedly stolen vehicle.
“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.
“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.
“About 1 per cent of police pursuits ended up with a fatal injury … 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.”
Dr Goldsworthy said although PIT manoeuvres are 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.”
The Queensland Police Service did not respond to questions about whether the pursuit or PIT manoeuvre were authorised in the Broadbeach incident.
The pursuit continues after the manoeuvre fails.
But Dr Goldsworthy said in certain circumstances police should be allowed to engage in this 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.”
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 due to appear at 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 Childrens Court at a later date.