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Riot team ready after police car kills teen

5:03am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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TENSIONS were running high in a North-East community yesterday after a teenage girl was killed by a police patrol car.

Officers with riot training were put on standby in the West End of Newcastle in case violence flared after the death of 16-year-old Hayley Adamson.

The teenager died after being hit by a police car in Denton Road at 11.20pm on Monday night.

Bricks were thrown at officers who attended the scene and several people were arrested. Police used a Taser stun gun to subdue a man.

Last night, as an independent inquiry into the conduct of Northumbria Police began, Chief Superintendent Paul Weir urged people to remain calm.

He said: "Emotions are running high in the area and that is understandable. However, we cannot tolerate that spilling over into violence and disorder.

"We have increased high-visibility patrols in the neighbourhood and specially trained teams of officers are also available if needs be.

"My appeal is for people to remain calm, understand what has happened and let the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) do its job."

Denton Road was closed at yesterday while investigators examined the scene.

Gary Garland, IPCC Commissioner for the North-East, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and my sympathies go out to Miss Adamson's family and friends and all those involved in the incident.

"The IPCC's investigators have been at the scene since the early hours of this morning.

"We will undertake a thorough, independent investigation into the incident."

Mr Garland said the driver of the police car was responding to the activation of his vehicle's automatic number plate recognition system. The officer has been removed from duty.

It was unclear whether the car's emergency lights and siren were activated.

One of Hayley's friends, Chris Broatch, 23, said: "I saw the whole thing. She stepped out into the road and the police car came out over the brow of the hill and hit her. The police officer driving was shaking violently and was very upset."

Officers were attacked with missiles after the collision and a 23-year-old, thought to be a Hayley's former partner, was arrested after police used a Taser gun.

Mr Broatch said: "The way the police handled the situation was poor. George Oliver, her on-off boyfriend, was beside himself with grief.

"He was shouting at the police, but they went too far by Tasering him. That night, he should have been grieving for Hayley, but instead, he was stuck in a police cell."

The IPCC's independent investigation will also examine circumstances surrounding the incident.

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Your Say YourThe Northern Echo

anon, Gateshead says...
12:23pm Wed 21 May 08

Yes it is awful that someone so young has died under such circumstances. I have the feeling if it had been an ambulance on its way to A&E of hospital ir would be a different matter. What if the car was on its way to stop your relative/friend being beaten up, attacked or robbed - would there be such an uproar then? Sadly accidents happen, could anything else really have been done to save the girl? Does anyone seriously think it was done on purpose?

I want to know what was a 16-year old girl was doing in the middle of the road at 11.20pm on a school night with a boyfriend of 23??? Young people have no respect for themselves or anyone else-they think they are above the law & road safety.

I have often had to stop dead on busy main roads through such estates for gangs of teenagers wandering in front of traffic.

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anon, darlington says...
12:40pm Wed 21 May 08

I am deeply sadenned by this incident and my thoughts are with Hayleys family and friends, but also with the driver of the car who will be grieving too. If anything good can come out of this situation, it would be that young people realise that the human body is no match for a ton of metal travelling at any speed. You are not invulnerable and have only one chance at life, don't abuse that chance and be careful on the roads. Just don't walk out in front of a car and think it will stop. If the driver has been distracted by something, him or her being taken to court after you're dead, will not bring you back!! To Hayley's parents, may God help you get through this tradgedy.

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killa KYLE, says...
1:17pm Wed 21 May 08

filth racist fascists dont care the ipcc will let police kill again if drivers kill they deserve prison its drivers responsibility to not kill padestians have right of way police kill every week and maim for life innocent citizens and never pay GOD WILL JUDGE US ALL ......PEACE TO THE BEREAVED IT IS EVERYONES LOSS ian kyle BHAM 0121 433 5014 B38 8QA

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Rachel, Darlington says...
1:57pm Wed 21 May 08

I can understand the initial knee jerk reaction when the car first hit the girl, and I would question why he was doing 100mph WITHOUT his sirens or lights on. What I can't understand is why friends and other are thinking of honouring her memory by getting tooled up and attacking the police, perhaps they should have the courtesy of asking her family whether they like them to host a different kind of event to remember her by.

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thomas scott, durham says...
2:08pm Wed 21 May 08

Do you lot know hayley adamson bet u do not l know the family very well and u lot here have no blessing for thisfamily all u are doing is putting this family down less the talking and bless this young lass .

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Russell, Durham says...
2:19pm Wed 21 May 08

thomas scott wrote:
Do you lot know hayley adamson bet u do not l know the family very well and u lot here have no blessing for thisfamily all u are doing is putting this family down less the talking and bless this young lass .
Who are you to say who has a right to post comments or offer condolances? Perhaps we do not know the family, but we are offering what comfort we can though this media. Perhaps you would prefer that nothing was wished for Hayley's family. If this is the case you are very narrow minded.

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George, Darlo says...
3:16pm Wed 21 May 08

Rachel wrote:
I can understand the initial knee jerk reaction when the car first hit the girl, and I would question why he was doing 100mph WITHOUT his sirens or lights on. What I can't understand is why friends and other are thinking of honouring her memory by getting tooled up and attacking the police, perhaps they should have the courtesy of asking her family whether they like them to host a different kind of event to remember her by.
Am i missing something or do you know something we dont?
Where does it state the car was dong 100 mph?

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Russell, Durham says...
3:31pm Wed 21 May 08

Good point, George!

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dullards, northeast says...
5:16pm Wed 21 May 08

Quite right George, It is unbelievable how some of these people are allowed to vote, when they struggle to read basic articles (unless its written in txt crp). Hopefully there will be no reprisals and her family will be allowed to grieve in peace.

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Madge, Consett says...
6:17pm Wed 21 May 08

I quite agree about reading the article,

"My appeal is for people to remain calm, understand what has happened and let the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) do its job."

Seems to say it all, becuase there will be any number of reasons, none of which anyone reading this will probably know.



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leon, darlo says...
6:37pm Wed 21 May 08

my thoughts are with the family and friends of this horrible accident. but thats what it is, a horrible accident, close to mid night attending an emergency to assist someone who was in trouble, the officer was clearing trying to ensure help was what he was providing, unfortunatley an accident occured on the way, the police officer does not deserve to have bricks thrown at him, people may say, "what if it was your daughter" i would be grieving but not throwing bricks. its a horendeous way to respond, my thoughts are also with the police officer involved.

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angel, m'bro says...
12:57am Thu 22 May 08

If I was related to this poor young girl or close friends, I would be ashamed and disgusted at the way "friends" have behaved towards the police. Like i said before if this was a middle aged women who had killed her would you then brick every middle aged woman?
If your looking for someone to blame then start with the person whos car triggered the number plate reconition???
Think about this if there was a chance she could of been saved but had died because the ambulance was driving slowly just in case the driver caused an accident, who would you blame then? or if 1 day you needed the police urgently but they were taking it easy would you say never mind i understand? I doubt it very much.

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angel, m'bro says...
1:26am Thu 22 May 08

thomas scott wrote:
Do you lot know hayley adamson bet u do not l know the family very well and u lot here have no blessing for thisfamily all u are doing is putting this family down less the talking and bless this young lass .
You do not want any of us to comment but its ok for everyone to comment on the officer and attack people who are doing a job, to protect you?

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angel, m'bro says...
1:31am Thu 22 May 08

thomas scott wrote:
Do you lot know hayley adamson bet u do not l know the family very well and u lot here have no blessing for thisfamily all u are doing is putting this family down less the talking and bless this young lass .
You do not want any of us to comment but its ok for everyone to comment on the officer and attack people who are doing a job, to protect you?

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me, here says...
2:09am Thu 22 May 08

My thoughts and prayers are with Hayley's family, but i do have to agree that the police do go by a law of their own, I do hope the officer in question is grieving! so he should be! a loss of a young life all because a none taxed car was on the roads, i do hope the officer in question is prosecuted the same way any of us drivers would be, but for that i wont hold my breath, because they seem to be getting away with DEATH BY CARELESS DRIVING! far to much in the last recent years. Its a shame they dont do the job us the tax payer's pay them to do.

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Brian, Durham says...
9:45am Thu 22 May 08

killa KYLE wrote:
filth racist fascists dont care the ipcc will let police kill again if drivers kill they deserve prison its drivers responsibility to not kill padestians have right of way police kill every week and maim for life innocent citizens and never pay GOD WILL JUDGE US ALL ......PEACE TO THE BEREAVED IT IS EVERYONES LOSS ian kyle BHAM 0121 433 5014 B38 8QA
Since when does racism and facism has anything to do with a tragic accident. The police officer involved was badly shaken up and upset if you care to read the paper properly and comments like yours just shows what simple and narrow minded some people are
Brian from Durham

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Mark P, Durham says...
7:49pm Thu 22 May 08

I'm studying law at the moment and my heart goes out to this girls family. One of the things we're looking at is that there is not actually any law for death by CARELESS driving, unless it's under the influence of drink or drugs. Otherwise it's only death by dangerous driving and the burden of proof is a lot harder as a consequence. Otherwise every person who didn't see a motorcyclist and pulled out at a junction following a momentary lapse would be guilty of a crime one down almost as bad as manslaughter. The reason why so many people think that the cops "get away" with this is that cases like this are well reported, however from my studies I hate to say that most people don't get charged with death by dangerous driving, and if there's no drink involved all you're left with is careless driving which carries a fine and points. That's why people think that drivers "get off". From the studies I've seen if the driver is someone who cares then they'll have their own life sentence. Interesting to note that there is another story on the Echo website about a teenager in a Corsa at Spennymoor who went through a red light this week and knocked over a four year old boy, who sufferred multiple broken bones and a serious head injury and they're still in intensive car (but will pull through). That story had no comments. My heartfelt condolences to the family again, and I hope they can learn to live with what has happened over time.

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angel, m'bro says...
5:59am Fri 23 May 08

I also noticed that about the little boy and a lay was knocked down and killed in billingham this week, again no comments

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m, uk says...
8:04pm Fri 23 May 08

The police do a fantastic job and the public don't realise! I to believe why was a 16 year old female out at the time of the riots!? If she had common sense she would be indoors if a riot was going on.. Where was the parents at the time!?!?

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Haleys Pal, SCOTSWOOD says...
11:15pm Fri 23 May 08

who the **** do all you stuck up bastards think yous are, who are yous to say a 16 year old lass shudnt be out at half 11 just becoz all your little angels are wrapped up under your noses untill the age of 21. Haley was out havin a good time with her mates after just leaving school living her life and havin a good time and for some of you thick **** their was no riots going on and haley did have common sense and if i heard one of you stuck up **** sayin anything like that face to face i would kick the **** out of yous.

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anon, DURHAM says...
10:39am Sat 24 May 08

THIS POOR GIRL IS DEAD AND WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE WHETHER SHE SHOULD BE OUT LATE OR NOT DOES IT REALLY MATTER ANYMORE NO PERSON CAN JUDGE ANOTHER UNLESS THEY KNOW THEM NOT ALL TEENAGERS ARE WASTES OF SPACE JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE KNOCKING AROUND THE STREETS WITH FRIENDS DID NONE OF YOU EVER HAVE A LIFE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER WE ARENT ALL BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN OUR MOUTHS!!!!

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angel, m'bro says...
12:35am Sun 25 May 08

I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth and am definatley not stuck up but i would not come onto a website like this swearing and threatening people.
Also i like to know where my children are and that they are not wandering the streets at 11.30pm not because i they are "angels" i just care about them and what other weirdos are doing on the street, When a young girl is killed by an innocent police man doing his job there is up roar. At least 1 teen a week is getting shot or stabbed to death and no-one bats an eyelid.

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shannon thomson, says...
5:57pm Sat 21 Jun 08

people didin't want u to go no one hated u eveyone loved u u were proper jawjus when I new your were gone I was crying my eyes out

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