Garda Commissioner Drew Harris announces new policy allowing pursuits of scramblers and motorbikes, enhancing safety measures against rising criminal activity.
Previously, gardai couldn’t pursue bikers due to safety concerns. Young criminals took advantage of this, often speeding past officers without fear of being stopped.
Gangs used scramblers and e-bikes for crimes like robberies. Now, the policy has changed. Officers can use stinger devices to stop these vehicles.
Harris explained that the rise in powerful electric bikes used for crime prompted this update. The new policy aims to support officers in making quick decisions during pursuits.
Last year, the pursuit policy was updated to allow officers to drive against traffic under certain conditions. This change helps address criminals who drive on the wrong side of the road to evade capture.
However, sometimes pursuits must be called off for safety reasons. Harris emphasized the need for a clear decision-making framework for officers in these situations.
