Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday 10th March 2025, at 12:20hrs
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
PC Mark Burrows, 45, is scheduled to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 11th, to face the charge, which relates to a fatal road traffic collision in Royton, Oldham, on December 23rd, 2022.
The incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. when an unmarked police car, driven by PC Burrows, collided with a Peugeot 108 at the junction of Oldham Road and Otmoor Way.
The police car had been in pursuit of an Audi A3, suspected to be stolen.
Tragically, the driver of the Peugeot, 53-year-old Heather Smedley, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics and an air ambulance crew.
The IOPC initiated an investigation into the incident after receiving a mandatory referral from GMP in December 2022.
Following the completion of their investigation in October 2023, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration of potential criminal offenses.
The CPS subsequently authorized the charge last month.
“We began our investigation after receiving a mandatory referral from GMP in December 2022,” an IOPC spokesperson stated.
“At the end of our investigation in October 2023 we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration of any potential criminal offence. The CPS subsequently authorised the charge last month.”
In response to the charge, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of GMP said,
“We are aware of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to charge an officer from our Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit with death by dangerous driving.
We have cooperated with the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s investigation throughout. The officer continues to receive the support of GMP and the GMP Federation.”
The case will now proceed through the court system, with PC Burrows due to appear before magistrates on Tuesday.
G2K INCIDENT WATCH 