Nottingham attacks: Police car saw van for "less than a minute" before it hit pedestrians
The IOPC will be investigating the incident
Last updated 16th Jun 2023
A marked police car had sight of the van involved in the Nottingham attacks "for less than a minute" before it hit pedestrians, a police watchdog has said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) added that the driver of the police car immediately stopped to give first aid, after two people were struck by the van in South Sherwood Street on Tuesday (13 June).
The IOPC will contact the two pedestrians to let them know of their investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the IOPC spokesman said: "We have now assessed a referral from Nottinghamshire Police, received on Wednesday, that informed us that a marked police car had been following behind the suspect's van for a short distance at the time it collided with two pedestrians in Nottingham on Tuesday morning causing injuries.
"Police forces are required to refer to the IOPC incidents where police involvement may have contributed to people sustaining significant injuries.
"We have viewed dashcam footage from the police car and can confirm the officer, in a single-crewed vehicle en route to a linked incident, had sight of the van for less than a minute before the collision in the South Sherwood Street area.
"The officer immediately stopped to provide first aid.
"We will be contacting the two people injured in the collision to wish them a speedy recovery and advise them that we have decided to investigate this specific police interaction.
"Our investigation will consider whether the actions of the van driver were influenced by the police car's presence shortly before he collided with the two pedestrians.
"Our thoughts remain with all those affected by Tuesday's tragic events."