Royal crash death outrider criticised by expert

"Johnathan Moody, Lancashire Police's deputy chief training instructor, who was called in by the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog to look into the incident, said: "It is not what I would expect a competent rider to do." Mr Moody, who looked at interviews, transcripts and body-worn footage, told the court: "Generally for the 15 minutes of the escort, most of the junctions and hazards were dealt with as I would expect. "Unfortunately, for the final feature, the red light, I would have expected a working bike to have stopped for that feature." He said "the majority" of the escort "was done as I would expect of a competent rider" trained to the appropriate levels except "the last few seconds at that crossing"."

"PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was part of a team of convoy motorcycle outriders escorting Sophie as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street just after 15:00 BST. Such riders are legally allowed in certain circumstances to exceed the speed limit, pass red lights and drive on the wrong side of the road - but using these exemptions must be done safely and with minimal risk to the public, the court heard."

"PC Harrison was allegedly travelling at between 44mph and 58mph as he approached the traffic light for the crossing on West Cromwell Road, which had a 30mph speed limit, the Old Bailey heard. He denies causing death by careless driving."

PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was part of a motorcycle escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh when he struck 81-year-old Helen Holland on a pedestrian crossing in Earl's Court on 10 May 2023. Mrs Holland died in hospital two weeks later. Speed was estimated between 44mph and 58mph while approaching a 30mph traffic light on West Cromwell Road. Reviewers of interviews, transcripts and body-worn footage said most of the escort was handled as expected but that the rider should have stopped for the red light at the crossing. Harrison denies causing death by careless driving. Escort riders may legally use exemptions but must minimize public risk.

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