'Too many risks' in police chases

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Officers undertake some pursuits without any plan for how they may be resolved, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

In some cases officers fail to follow "strong and sensible" guidelines while others may not even be aware of them, officials found.

There is evidence some drivers misled senior officers by claiming they were not in a pursuit when after a crash inspectors found they "clearly were".

Examples of inappropriate vehicles such as 4x4s and vans being used in chases were also uncovered by the watchdog.

The IPCC recommended the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) code of practice for those involved in pursuits should be made compulsory.

A report published also said black box data recorders similar to those used in aircraft should be fitted to all police vehicles.

:: Five people killed in a head-on motorway collision were officially named by the police watchdog investigating the crash. James Stafford, 69, and his wife Bridget, 70, of Thornton Heath, south London, were killed when their car was hit by a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction along the M4 in Newport, south Wales.

Three young men travelling in the other vehicle, a red Ford Mondeo, also died at the scene. Their car had been followed by police, but the pursuit ended once the car drove onto the motorway.

They have been named as Christopher Stuart Anthony Beresford, 18, and Lee Andrew Maggs, 26, both from the Duffryn area of Newport, and Sam Michael Case, 19, from the Maindee area of the city.