POLICE, RANDOM BREATH TESTING UNITS

In reply to Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (2 July 2009).

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): The Deputy Commissioner of Police has advised me that General Orders contain provisions which apply to all situations of police pursuit driving. Police pursuit driving is when police are following a vehicle, and the person in control of the vehicle:

fails to stop after being signalled to do so by a police officer;

takes deliberate action to avoid being stopped; or

appears to ignore police attempts to stop the vehicle.

These circumstances are not specific to driver testing stations.

I am told that before and during any pursuit, police assess the risk involved in line with SAPOL's operational safety philosophy and principles to minimise the risk of danger to the police involved, the alleged offender and community members such as other road users and pedestrians in the area. Protecting life and property is paramount, and if at any time the risk to police, public, suspect(s) or damage to property is assessed as unacceptable, the pursuit is terminated.

I understand that in the case of random breath testing stations, a strategy which is often adopted is to communicate the description and details of a vehicle which appears to be avoiding being stopped at the RBT to a mobile traffic unit or patrol located in close proximity. The vehicle can then be intercepted and stopped in the safest possible manner.