WATCH | When Ramming Police Doesn’t Mean Prison
Two pursuits. Two rammings. Two very different outcomes.
This week, we’ve published a new video on our YouTube channel (scroll down) showing police dashcam footage of two separate police pursuits, both involving fleeing drivers ramming police vehicles in a bid to get away. The chases took place in Peterborough and Lincolnshire, and the incidents were strikingly similar in terms of risk, damage, and danger to officers.
But what really caught our attention wasn’t just the footage; it was the sentencing.
In one case, the driver admitted to 13 offences, including dangerous driving, assaulting officers, and damaging multiple police cars. He was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving for over three years.
In the other case, the driver was already disqualified, driving without insurance, using false registration plates, and was found with stolen copper piping and cabling in the back of his van. He rammed an unmarked police vehicle, causing over £10,000 worth of damage. And yet, he received a suspended sentence, meaning he walked free from court.
It’s a contrast that’s hard to ignore. Why is it that two nearly identical crimes can result in such different outcomes? And how does this make officers and the public feel, knowing the consequences for this kind of behaviour can be so minimal?
🎥 Watch the full video below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Should drivers who ram police vehicles be made to pay for the damage themselves? Is the justice system consistent enough when it comes to protecting frontline emergency workers?
I agree with the comments above,ramming a police vehicle and possibly police officers are two separate offences, but for the criminals the same financial sanctions police vehicle cost of repairs, police officer they get to pay that officer's wage whilst he recovers, if the two offences happen in one offence of running from the police, the offender has possibly at least two bills to pay I don't think the offender would be keen on that and as the comments above say if they cannot or refuse to pay take all their assets until the bill's are paid
These criminals need to pay the cost of repairs to the Police vehicles, OR if they refuse/cannot pay,
take their assets until the bills have been cleared, no matter how long it takes. Money means everything to Criminals.
Our Judicial system need to waken up.