Dorset Police officers cleared after Steven Brown car chase death near Three Legged Cross

Two Dorset Police officers have been cleared over the death of a man they were chasing near Three Legged Cross.

Steven Brown from Verwood died after his Volkswagen Golf crashed at Clump Hill in December 2012.

Two Dorset Police officers have been cleared by the IPCC oafter Steven Brown died in a car chase near Three Legged Cross

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that two officers had conducted the chase in accordance with police guidelines.

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: "A young man died in a crash after he had failed to stop for the police. My sympathies go to Mr Brown's family and friends for their loss.

"It was clear from the audio recordings of the pursuit that the control room operator was not in control of this pursuit. This was mitigated by the actions of another operator who ensured that correct actions were carried out.

"We have identified that the control room operator had not been given proper training to manage police pursuits and so it is Dorset Police who must take responsibility for those failings.

"We have identified this issue to the force and expect it to ensure that any officer and member of staff involved in police pursuits are aware of the correct policies and have been properly trained."

Police were called at around 10pm on December 17 to a report of a car driving away from a petrol station in Ringwood Road, St Leonards. The Volkswagen also had fake number plates.

At around 2am on December 18, two officers in a marked car recognised the purple Golf from a previous description and tried to stop it.

The Volkswagen collided with the roadside along Horton Road at the junction with Burts Lane.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash and an inquest was open and adjourned.