Motorbike Thief, Who Police Didn’t Chase, Dies In Helmetless Bike Accident
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010A suspected thief was been killed in a motorbike accident in South Manchester on Saturday.
Police had previously refused to pursue Bobby Carl Hodgkins as he was not wearing a helmet whilst riding a motorbike.
Hodgkins was one of two men held after a raid on a showroom in Altrincham last month. Whilst the escape was witnessed by police, they were told not to pursue the suspects because they were not wearing helmets.
Hodgkins died after the Kawasaki 450 he was riding collided with a van, he was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe head injuries and died later in hospital.
The motorbike was stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw on the 26th August.
Hodgkins, from Wythenshawe, was due to answer bail on the 10th September over the raid in Altrincham on the 12th August.
During the raid, police saw the gang riding off on a Yamaha R1, Honda CBR 1000 Fireblade and a Honda CBR 600.
Police officers were told not to pursue the thieves, which is in line with national policy, and instead watched as they rode off with £17,000 worth of machinery.
Greater Manchester Police has said it was following a “nationwide police that motorbikes should not be pursued because of the higher risk of injury to the rider”.
“The officers were asked not to pursue the suspects, as they were not wearing the correct safety equipment and were not wearing helmets,” Supt Steve Nibloe said.
It strikes us that this ‘national policy’ is a bit of a disgrace. If someone chooses to steal a motorbike then they know the risks involved and would expect to be chased by police, particularly if they were seen!
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