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Police death smash bike 'grounded'
Tuesday, 1st August 2006
Nicola Dowling

POLICE chiefs have withdrawn a model of motorbike from service after the deaths of two officers during training exercises.

Pc Allan Shaw, 33, died last month after his Honda ST1300 struck a stationary lorry in Astley Bridge, Bolton, during a police training exercise. His death came eight months after a fatal crash when an officer on a similar model was in collision with a lorry in Skelmersdale.

About 20 of the bikes have been withdrawn from service by Greater Manchester Police while an investigation continues into the death of Pc Shaw.

It is understood other police forces have taken similar action. The decision was taken after the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, urged forces to suspend use of the bike. Federation chairman Jan Berry wrote to the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers saying: ". . . we have concluded that until the stability of these motorcycles can be assured they must be withdrawn from police use."

The Manchester branch of the federation also wrote to GMP asking for the bikes to be withdrawn pending an investigation.

Chairman Paul Kelly said: "At this early stage we are not aware of any evidence pointing towards the type of bike being a factor in Allan's accident. But in light of the earlier accident in Lancashire, we requested the chief officer as a precautionary measure to remove them from normal patrol." Meredydd Hughes, ACPO's spokesman on road policing and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Forces are working with Honda to establish if there are any issues with the machine and ACPO and the Police Federation have requested forces to introduce some basic safety measures."

A Honda spokesman said the firm had worked closely with police forces to develop the model according to their particular specifications. He said the bike had been around for four or five years and was the "most popular bike in the country" for police.

Could there be a fault with this model of motorcycle, or simply down to driver error?

Police bike is 'serious threat'

A standard issue police motorbike used by 22 forces poses a "serious threat" to riders' lives, a coroner has said.
Dr James Adeley is to write to chief constables across England and Wales to warn them of a "catastrophic result" which can occur with the Honda model.

He was speaking at an inquest into the death of Pc David Shreeve, of Wirral, who was thrown off a bike in training.

Honda said safety was paramount and it would continue to liaise with the police in light of the coroner's words.

Pc Shreeve, 38, was travelling at about 110mph along the M58 motorway near Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on 9 November 2005 when he lost control.

The inquest in Lancaster heard that the bike began to shake violently in a phenomenon known as high speed weave.

The Merseyside Police officer was crushed to death under a lorry after he fell off.

Dr Adeley recorded a narrative verdict into the death.

The Preston and West Lancashire coroner told the inquest that after Pc Shreeve's death the model underwent comprehensive safety checks.

In one test an examiner broke his leg and fractured both wrists after being thrown off in another high speed weave.

One Lancashire Constabulary examiner, Peter Wilson, reported the problem was "the worst weave on any bike he had tested in his career", the inquest heard.

Merseyside Police immediately withdrew all models from service after the accident, but there are about 450 police Honda ST1300s being used by officers across the country.

The inquest was told that problems affected only police models of the motorcycle with their heavy emergency and communications equipment.

Merseyside Police withdrew the Honda ST1300A at the time of this incident, and has not used the bike since

Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan, Merseyside Police

Pc Shreeve was described as a "good officer and a nice fellow" who was a "careful, competent, not panicky and a cerebral rider".

Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan of Merseyside Police said: "The death of Dave has been a tragic loss of an experienced and popular officer who spent much of his time helping his colleagues and mentoring officers of less experience than himself.

"Merseyside Police withdrew the Honda ST1300A at the time of this incident, and has not used the bike since.

"We're grateful that the coroner recognises the professionalism of our trainers and that neither David Shreeve, nor the force, was in any way responsible for this tragic incident."

Honda said it had a strong working relationship with the majority of the police forces across the UK, which had lasted more than 15 years.

My other bike (one I use for commuting) is an ST1100 - (ST1300 predecessor) and I have also ridden the new ST1300. Obviously, it wasn't a police spec one, but I had absolutely no handling problems on it, even when it was ridden in a spirited fashion.

I quite liked it, but unfortunately, I have a wife who vetoed the part-ex on my current Pan

Why was the officer doing speeds in excess of the national limits of 30,40,50,60 or 70 (dependant on road types & conditions) if only training[...]

Again through conversations with those on the inside its my understanding that those on watch duties have switched to blackbirds[...]

I cannot understand why a Merseyside police officer was being trained at very high speed on a poor quality motorway

the same problem occurred on the BMW machines that used to be used. It was "solved" by moving the panniers forward....the bikes then became single seat. The more weight on the back, the less on the front