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Watchdog appeal into death crash

by Adam Derbyshire
20/ 8/2008

POLICE watchdogs have issued an appeal for witnesses to a 50-minute police chase which ended in the death of a biker grandad.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of grandfather-of-13 Alan Long, 54.

Mr Long, of Linden Road, died after his motorbike collided with a Volkswagen Polo at the junction of Stamford Road and Rassbottom Street, Stalybridge, on August 1. He died from his injuries in hospital.

Passionate

Mr Long — described by his family as a ‘passionate biker’ — was being pursued by police, but it has since been revealed that all the officers wanted to do was check his driving documents.

The chase also involved the force plane which was tracking Mr Long (pictured inset) from the skies.

As a result of the accident and Mr Long’s subsequent death, eight police officers have been suspended from driving duties.

It has also emerged police control room staff repeatedly tried to call off the pursuit — but it continued.

The IPCC probe is considering how many vehicles were involved and whether they followed correct procedure.

The watchdog will also try to establish why police first wanted Mr Long to stop.

The IPCC said officers attempted to stop Mr Long on Whittle Street, Denton, at around 11.10pm. He failed to stop and the pursuit included parts of the M60.

IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long said: "It is important that we build as full a picture as possible of what happened during the pursuit of Mr Long and at the scene of the collision.

"I would urge anyone who saw any stage of the pursuit to contact us.

"Any piece of information, no matter how minor you may think it is, will assist our investigation."

Call the IPCC on 0800 096 9078 or e-mail gmprti@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.