A suspected motorbike thief who police refused to chase because he was not wearing a helmet has been killed riding a stolen machine.
Bobby Hodgkins, 24, was one of two men arrested days after a raid on a motorbike showroom in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, last month.
At the time, officers refused to chase thieves seen roaring away on stolen bikes because of safety fears as they were not wearing crash helmets.
Police bosses defended their actions, saying the officers had followed the correct protocol.
But Mr Hodgkins suffered serious head injuries when the Kawasaki 450 he was riding collided with a van in Wythenshawe on Saturday afternoon.
He died a short time later.
The motorbike had been stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw on August 26.
Mr Hodgkins was not wearing a helmet at the time and did not have a valid driving licence after being banned for dangerous driving in 2005.
He had been due to take retake his driving test to get his licence back, but had not done so.
Mr Hodgkins had been due to answer bail for the showroom theft on Friday.
During that raid, officers spotted the criminals fleeing on a Yamaha R1, a Honda 1000 Fireblade and a Honda CBR 600.
They contacted their duty inspector for guidance but after learning none of the suspects was wearing helmets and safety equipment, he ordered them not to pursue the thieves.
Shop owner Tony Crawford slammed the decision at the time.
Last night Mr Crawford, who has still not had his motorbikes returned, said he would not wish anyone dead but hoped that this would serve as a warning that motorcyclists cannot ride without a helmet.
Sale West MP Graham Brady said at the time of the original theft he was 'astonished' that the welfare of criminals in the act of breaking the law was put before a chance to apprehend them.
Chris Burrows, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, said the officers had acted in accordance with force policy.
He said that even though the situation was frustrating for the officers they would have been severely criticised if they had acted any differently.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-chase-killed-stolen-bike.html#ixzz0yrXJRXu7
Bobby Hodgkins, 24, was one of two men arrested days after a raid on a motorbike showroom in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, last month.
At the time, officers refused to chase thieves seen roaring away on stolen bikes because of safety fears as they were not wearing crash helmets.
Police bosses defended their actions, saying the officers had followed the correct protocol.
But Mr Hodgkins suffered serious head injuries when the Kawasaki 450 he was riding collided with a van in Wythenshawe on Saturday afternoon.
He died a short time later.
The motorbike had been stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw on August 26.
Mr Hodgkins was not wearing a helmet at the time and did not have a valid driving licence after being banned for dangerous driving in 2005.
He had been due to take retake his driving test to get his licence back, but had not done so.
Mr Hodgkins had been due to answer bail for the showroom theft on Friday.
During that raid, officers spotted the criminals fleeing on a Yamaha R1, a Honda 1000 Fireblade and a Honda CBR 600.
They contacted their duty inspector for guidance but after learning none of the suspects was wearing helmets and safety equipment, he ordered them not to pursue the thieves.
Shop owner Tony Crawford slammed the decision at the time.
Last night Mr Crawford, who has still not had his motorbikes returned, said he would not wish anyone dead but hoped that this would serve as a warning that motorcyclists cannot ride without a helmet.
Sale West MP Graham Brady said at the time of the original theft he was 'astonished' that the welfare of criminals in the act of breaking the law was put before a chance to apprehend them.
Chris Burrows, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, said the officers had acted in accordance with force policy.
He said that even though the situation was frustrating for the officers they would have been severely criticised if they had acted any differently.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-chase-killed-stolen-bike.html#ixzz0yrXJRXu7
