Thirty-nine people died in road traffic incidents involving police last year – the highest number since 2018/19, a watchdog has revealed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the number of fatalities was “concerning” after rising from 25 deaths in the previous 12-month period.

The figures for 2021-22 cover deaths of motorists, cyclists or pedestrians involving police pursuits on the roads, as well as those resulting when police vehicles have responded to emergency calls.

According to the IOPC, 25 of the people who died were the “driver or passenger in the pursued vehicle” and three people were pedestrians who were “hit by the pursued or suspect vehicle”.

The average age of those who died as either the driver or passenger in a pursued or fleeing vehicle was 27.

IOPC director general Michael Lockwood said: “It is concerning to note that this year has seen a rise in the number of fatalities from road traffic incidents, 39 deaths from 25 the previous year.

“Five incidents accounted for 12 of the deaths and a high proportion (85%) of the deaths were police pursuit-related.

“In the 13 deaths where the IOPC has concluded an investigation, we found police officers acted appropriately and in accordance with their training, policies and procedures.”

The IOPC said there had been 11 deaths in or following police custody in England and Wales in 2021-22 and two fatal police shootings in that period involving the Met Police and the Thames Valley force.

The report comes after protests over the death of 24-year-old Chris Kaba who was shot dead by a police officer in south London on 5 September.

The IOPC has said it will “explore all of the circumstances” surrounding the death of the unarmed black man, including whether “race influenced any actions taken by the police”.

The Metropolitan Police officer involved has been suspended.

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