London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A jury ruled police mishandling led to the 2016 death of London teen Lewis Johnson, a verdict his mother welcomed after nine years of seeking justice.
As reported by The Guardian, the inquest jury’s conclusion citing serious police lapses in her son’s fatal chase was welcomed by the mother of the gifted teenage footballer.
Lewis Johnson’s death
In February 2016, 18-year-old Lewis Johnson, formerly part of Crystal Palace’s youth squad, died when the Vespa scooter he was riding collided with a van in Clapton, east London, after a three-minute high-speed police chase.
Police pursued him after allegations of stealing mobile phones. Since Johnson’s death, nine years passed before the inquest began, during which several legal challenges and investigations reviewed the case.
What did Lewis Johnson’s mother say after the inquest cleared a path to justice?
Ann Torpey, Johnson’s mother, expressed relief, saying she felt a sense of release after the inquest verdict.
She stated,
“The jury agreed with us. I was in shock at first after fighting for the truth to come out for nine years. I left the court and got on the train and by the time I got off a smile was spreading across my face. I felt as if a 10-stone weight had been lifted from me.”
Torpey said,
“My Lewis had had bad experiences with the police. He never would have stopped for them in that chase. When I started to fight for justice for him I wasn’t clued up about legal things but it was Lewis who made me stronger every day.”
She believes her son ran from the police because he was afraid of them. Referring to claims that Johnson was stealing phones, she said her son had done wrong but was not a criminal, explaining he had become involved in disputes linked to postcode conflicts.
Torpey added,
“Lewis was my absolute. He had an aura around him. Everybody loved him and hundreds of people came to his funeral. Our last conversation was about pancakes as it was pancake day and I asked him what he wanted on his pancakes later that day. The last thing he said to me was: ‘I love you mumsie’. I will continue to live my life for my other children but every night when I go to sleep I know that when I wake up the next day I’ll be a step closer to being with Lewis again.”
What did Andre Clovis say about the legal struggles faced by Lewis Johnson’s mother?
Andre Clovis, a consultant solicitor, stated,
“Ms Torpey has never made any excuses for Lewis’s behaviour but she has been badly let down by the legal system.”
He added,
“It has saddened me that unless she fought tooth and nail through every obstacle placed in her way for nine years, she would not have received that which she is entitled to under the law, a full understanding of circumstances in which Lewis met his death.”
Brittany Clarke’s views on the police pursuit policy
Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, head of local policing, stated,
“Our thoughts and condolences remain with Lewis’s family and friends for their loss. We are aware of the outcome of the inquest and we will respond to any recommendations from the coroner in due course.”
He said,
“We have a clear policy on when and where a police pursuit should take place. We recognise the dangers of these incidents and officers should adhere to the national guidelines issued by the College of Policing.”
Mr Clarke added,
“Officers driving police vehicles, or those who have responsibility for monitoring or authorising a pursuit, are trained on how they should respond to these dynamic incidents.”
What did the jury find about the police pursuit’s role in Johnson’s death?
- Cause of death: Johnson died after colliding with a traffic light pole during a police pursuit in east London.
- Risky riding behaviour: Johnson rode his moped over the speed limit, on the wrong side of the road, and on the pavement, partly influenced by the police chase.
- Police pursuit faults:
- The police car followed too closely, increasing pressure on Johnson and affecting his decisions.
- Missed opportunities to reduce risks to Johnson and the public by maintaining unsafe proximity.
- Lack of proper training & policy awareness:
- The pursuing officer lacked the required certification (initial pursuit qualification) for motorcycle chases.
- Poor understanding of pursuit policies among the driver, operator, and control room staff.
- Inadequate communication of pursuit guidelines for motorcycles.
What were the misconduct findings against the officers involved in the 2016 pursuit?
The force announced that on 4 March 2022, a hearing found two officers involved in the chase had committed misconduct.
An officer driving the police car initiated and continued the chase without the necessary permission. The misconduct panel ruled against the officer, who mistakenly believed the chase was authorised.
The Kingston Crown Court found the officer not guilty on 12 October 2021 of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Recent data about police pursuits and deaths
- Fatalities in police pursuits (2023–24):
- 24 deaths were recorded (source: Independent Office for Police Conduct).
- Met police pursuits (2019–20 vs. 2024–25):
- 2019–20: 2,779 pursuits.
- 2024–25: 4,111 pursuits (near 50% increase).
- Collisions: 1,179 (roughly 25% of total pursuits).