Police pursuits !

Every time a criminal is killed or injured in a crash arising from a police pursuit pressure builds for a discontinuation of police pursuits. In many cases the driver involved is a juvenile and once the siren and flashing lights are switched on all forms of common sense evaporate. No heed is paid to traffic lights, stop signs or other traffic. The chances of the pursued car crashing or killing other drivers is a factor monitored by the police commanders - who have the power to order the pursuit discontinued.
It boils down to a balance between public safety and the requirement that the police enforce the law. If all pursuits that involve vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit are banned then law and order has surrendered and the streets become the property of car thieves and hijackers.
Consider this scenario. A householder hears noises and sees youths tinkering with his car in the drive. He phones 000 - and just as the police arrive his car is hot wired and driven off by the thieves.
The householder points to the disappearing car and asks the cops to do something about the theft. The cops shrug their shoulders and advise him that chasing stolen cars is no longer allowed. File a report at the local police station - if you can find one manned - and you will be advised when the car turns up - abandoned or more likely torched and burnt out !
Would you be satisfied if that happened to you ?
The present situation is probably the best we can hope for. Police do apply the law and try to apprehend those driving stolen vehicles - or who ignore breath testing stations - but pursuits are called off when traffic density or other safety factors warrant.
The people calling for the end of all police pursuits are in cloud cuckoo land. There would be no point in having a police force unless it was allowed to do the job enshrined in legislation - and demanded by the majority of the public !