www.itv.com/news/2025-11-18/family-demand-reform-after-officer-cleared-in-royal-escort-crash
This really does raise a lot of questions. How can someone go through a green crossing at 48mph and get off with it?
Just why exactly does this lowly royal need to be fast tracked through the streets with the associated risks?
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Yes it does, been following the case, thought he was guilty, in my view his riding fell well below his training and responsibility
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I'm not Royalist but Sophie Wessex is the wife of the King's brother and would, I guess, be a target for terrorism or kidnap for ransom. Causing her convoy to stop by the simple expedient of pressing a Pelican crossing button must be a pretty obvious risk to be managed.
Fifty years ago learning to drive one of my instructor's questions was what one thing does a green traffic light tell you? The answer wasn't go; the only certainty is that the bulb works. In other words don't just go on green; look first. If the deceased pedestrian had done that she wouldn't be deceased. Doing so on crossings has saved me more than one near miss.
The office was acquitted by a jury so unless they were not properly directed by the Judge there's a reasonable degree of certainty that the outcome correctly reflects the law as it applies to police etc and red lights.
What's odd is that the escort motorcyclists were not blowing whistles. When I was riding my bike in London traffic the approach of VIP type convoys, which were not uncommon, was hearing the whistles; one of many good reasons I never rode the bike with earpieces.
He's now potentially subject to disciplinary action where the alternatives available to him will be examined. I suspect though the worst outcome from his point of view will be a reprimand or warning and/or removal from escort duties for a period.
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At 66, quite old for a serving copper!
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I thought the general practice under these circumstances was for the outriders to proceed ahead to the next potential "hazard" and ensure it was safe for the motorcade to pass, continuing to do that by "jumping" each other.
I'd have expected there to be "protection" at the crossing ahead of arrival, not for an outrider to go through at speed.
Certainly, watching, say, the Tour of Britain come through here (twice) that has been the practice to protect the public from the riders.
I'm always wary of jumping to conclusions when one hasn't had the evidence that an acquitting jury was privy to, but certainly, prima facie, it looks very iffy (which is presumably why it went to trial).
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Sensationalist headlines. "Above the law" Did this case not go to Crown Court?
Moving on. VIP escorting is a dynamic skill constantly assessing and anticipating. The aim is to keep moving and never become stationary. This can be achieved by moving slowly as well as quickly. Slow down and create a sterile area in front in which to keep moving and let the traffic ahead move away. The riders lead frog creating a rolling secure convoy.
The SEG are very good at what they do and London is a challenging environment. The more riders the easier it is to secure more hazards rather than assessing risk and moving on.
Generally, at pedestrian crossings the crossing is secured whatever the light colour until at least such time as those using the crossing acknowledge that they will allow passage and have visual on the VIP vehicle.
I don't know the full circumstances but it might be that the crossing had been declared 'secure' and the rider moved on. The rider in question then rode through the ‘secure; crossing except in this instance the situation changed.
The riders age has come into question but he is well experienced and passed training and assessments for riding and firearms. (They all carry weapons)
There are a lot of unknowns. There is no suggestion in this case but it is not unknown for people to deliberately walk out infront of emergency vehicles.
Tragedy for the the lady, the family and indeed the PC.
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At the start of my working life I used to work near Buck House and saw Her Maj or others quite regularly when I was ambling down to Victoria Station after work. Used to get quite a good view as when there was a copper on point duty at the crossroads you knew they weren't far away. The bikes would then come through, leapfrogging as FC says, then her car - and she normally sat behind the driver so I'd be on the edge of the pavement right along side :-)
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Royal Escort Motorcycle court case - Zero
