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A 67-year-old Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with causing death by careless driving, following the death of an 81-year-old woman who was hit by a police motorcycle that was part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh. Helen Holland was killed in a crash in Earl’s Court, West London, on 10 May 2023, and later died in hospital two weeks later from “multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries”. After reviewing the evidence by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found sufficient grounds to charge Christopher Harrison. He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 6 November.
Ms Holland was fatally injured at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road. Following her death, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace conveyed that “The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away. Her Royal Highness’s deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Holland’s family.” The Special Crime Division of the CPS has requested that there should be no online reporting, commentary, or sharing of information that could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
This is not the first time a police motorbike has been involved in a fatal crash. In 2017, pedestrian Irene Mayor was killed when she was hit by a police motorcycle that was helping escort William and Kate’s convoy. The officer responsible for the accident was also charged with causing death by careless driving.
The death of Ms Holland has raised questions about the training and competency of police motorbike riders. While police drivers undergo advanced driving courses, there is no similar structure in place for police riders. As a result, some have pointed out that the risk of causing injury or death is statistically higher when riding a motorcycle than driving a car. The Police Federation is calling on the current review into road traffic policing to examine this issue further
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