United New Zealand Party leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling for a review of the way in which Police car chases are carried out.

He was commenting after receiving advice from the Minister of Police that there have been 47 Police vehicle pursuits in the last five years, involving death or serious injury, including 10 fatalities.

"While there will always be an element of risk involved in high speed chases, I think that 10 needless deaths in five years is far too high a price, and that there ought to be a review of the way in which such chases are carried out, as well as the overall procedures that are followed."

"Like most people, I have no problem with the Police chasing genuine serious crime suspects, if there is chance they will escape and pose a major threat to society, but a sense of proportion has to be maintained."

"Car chases are about much more than Police convenience."

"A high speed chase threatening life and public safety is hardly justified for comparatively minor offences like failing to stop, or shooting a red light, for example."

"The bottom line is there are simply too many accidents and fatalities occurring at present."

"I think there needs to be a rethink of the circumstances under which chases are authorised, to ensure that the risk to human life is minimised, if not eliminated."

"New Zealand is not the Wild West, and we do not want to encourage the American trash TV cop drama approach to Policing that a cavalier and reckless approach to car chases and safety leads to," he says.

ENDS