Motor-cycle chase through city mall

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 1

Motor-cycle chase through city mall

By

NEIL CLARKSON

Startled inner-city shoppers . watched a traffic officer ride his motor-cycle through the High Street Mall during a pursuit yesterday afternoon. The traffic officer had his lights on and siren sounding as he drove through the mall about 4.30 p.m. following a motor-cyclist who refused to stop. Senior Traffic Sergeant Syd Burt, of the Ministry of

Transport, said the officer eventually broke off the pursuit in Manchester Street when he considered it was getting too dangerous. Senior Traffic Sergeant Burt said the traffic officer had tried unsuccessfully to stop the motor-cyclist, who was first seen on Colombo Street without a registration plate on his machine. The motor-cyclist weaved in and out of traffic as he turned into Lichfield Street,

then into High Street. He then rode through the High Street Mall, on to Colombo Street and into Cathedral Square. He got on to Manchester Street and the officer abandoned the chase as the offender neared the Kilmore Street intersection. Senior Traffic Sergeant Burt said speeds during the chase were about 50km/h, although the offender’s speed

was increasing towards the end of the chase. This influenced the traffic officer’s decision to end the pursuit. The decision to pursue through the mall was made by the traffic officer, he said. “We would normally be hesitant in pursuing in that situation. The individual traffic officer has that judgment,” he said.

“If he feels it could be done in safety, without danger to pedestrians, he would proceed with caution.” The officer had gone through the mall with caution and was dropping back from the motor-cyclist, said Senior Traffic Sergeant Burt. The officer concerned would file a pursuit report as a matter of course. No complaint had been received about the incident.