DON'T CHASE THE BAD GUYS

Untrained officers must stand down - even at speed limit

- BY MARCELLO MEGA

COPS fear crooks could get away after officers were told they can't pursue suspects in their squad cars because of strict new safety rules.

Thousands of frontline officers fear bedlam will result from the new guidelines, issued in a memo sent by Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs.

He warned that police without specific training now had no right to follow suspects – even within the speed limit – until they pass a new training course.

One senior police insider said last night the rules would mean officers having to "sit back and watch" if suspects drive away from a crime scene.

The source added: "Normally, if you're in a police vehicle and you see someone breaking the law you signal to them to stop. If they set off at speed, you follow and call for help and hopefully hand over to a team with the right vehicles and driver training to give chase.

"What this new situation means is that you will signal a vehicle to stop, and if the driver decides just to put his foot down, you will have to watch them drive off and try to guess where they're heading.