**Police Officer Involved in High-Speed Crash During Pursuit, Court Hears**
A Dyfed-Powys Police officer is at the centre of controversy following a high-speed collision that occurred during the pursuit of a suspect vehicle. The incident, now the subject of both legal proceedings and internal police investigation, raises urgent questions about police driving standards and public safety.
The incident took place in the early hours of 29 September last year in the town of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. Constable Phillip Thomas, accompanied by a colleague, had been on routine patrol in a marked police van when their attention was drawn to a white hatchback vehicle parked outside the Cottage Inn. When the suspect car sped away after initially travelling at a normal pace, the officers initiated pursuit, activating the blue lights on their Vauxhall Vivaro van.
Despite his prior specialised training which allowed him to exceed the speed limit by up to 20mph when necessary, PC Thomas was clocked at 59mph in a 30mph residential zone as he navigated a left-hand bend on Dyffryn Road. According to court testimony, the van under-steered, resulting in it crossing the central white line, striking an oncoming car, and then crashing heavily into a lamppost. Disturbing footage of the crash, released as part of the court case, has since spread on social media, eliciting strong public reaction over the risks associated with high-speed police pursuits in built-up areas.
The female driver of the car involved in the collision sustained minor injuries, including cuts and abrasions, and was taken to hospital for observation on a shoulder injury. While police confirmed that the car sustained extensive damage, it was regarded as fortunate that her injuries were not more severe.
Details presented at Swansea Crown Court revealed that onboard police data showed the van had peaked at 68mph during the brief pursuit. Defence barrister James Hartson argued that the challenging circumstances of pursuing a car suspected to be linked with criminal activity meant estimating precise speeds could prove difficult, especially in a vehicle not designed for such cornering. He characterised the event as a classic case of under-steer, emphasising that PC Thomas lost control while acting out of a sense of duty.
Constable Thomas, of Dafen, Llanelli, had already admitted to careless driving and had no previous convictions or disciplinary history. The court also heard that the officer, who has four years’ service and several commendations to his name, had an otherwise unblemished driving record prior to the incident.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC weighed the officer’s prior good service against the risks posed to public safety, noting that Thomas was visibly apologetic and solicitous towards the victim immediately after the crash. The judge remarked that the lingering impact of public embarrassment and the ignomy of appearing before Crown Court might constitute a greater personal penalty than any official sanction. Nonetheless, with a third reduction for his early guilty plea, PC Thomas received a £275 fine and six penalty points, with an additional court surcharge of £110 and one month to pay. Should he fail to pay, he faces a week in prison.
Outside the courtroom, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that PC Thomas had been removed from frontline duties and was now subject to a parallel disciplinary inquiry into alleged gross misconduct. Speaking on behalf of the force, Superintendent Phil Rowe described his actions as falling “below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances,” and emphasised that accountability was essential following such incidents.
This event brings to the fore the ongoing national conversation about the conduct and responsibilities of police on the roads, especially during pursuits in residential or high-risk settings. While officers are often required to make split-second decisions in the line of duty, the potential consequences for both public safety and police accountability remain under close scrutiny.
As the professional standards department investigation proceeds, the outcome will be closely watched by both the policing community and the public, concerned about the balance between effective law enforcement and safeguarding innocents from unnecessary harm. The case stands as a stark reminder of the pressures facing officers, and the consequences that can arise when those pressures intersect with momentary human error.