'Regret' over police TT film showing fatal crashes

A safety video posted on Facebook by Isle of Man police which showed fatal racing crashes ahead of this year's TT festival was a matter of "regret", a minister has said.

The film, which featured crashes on both open roads and during racing, was edited and re-posted by officers on 19 May.

Speaking in the House of Keys, Home Affairs minister Jane Poole-Wilson admitted families had not been consulted about its release.

Isle of Man Constabulary, which re-posted the video following a backlash, has been contacted for a response.

The video was posted after the force launched its annual Know Your Limits campaign and urged TT fans to "respect our roads".

However, social media users were quick to criticise the racing footage it showed.

While in previous years videos have shown crashes involving regular traffic, many took issue with TT racing footage being included because the campaign was aimed at everyday road users.

One person described it as "inappropriate, distasteful, not to mention disrespectful".

Another said: "To release the video without consulting the families is beyond comprehension and somebody should be held accountable."

In a statement following the re-posted video, the force said it had "followed all the correct protocols and procedures in the making of all versions of this video".

The statement also said: "While our overall aim is to save lives and prevent serious injury, we also want to be responsive to the specific feedback about one element of our TT safety video and its impact on some."

Poole-Wilson said: "I am aware that the constabulary have taken steps to address the identified issue including making changes to the video."

While the chief constable was "operationally independent", the minister said she understood the police had "introduced a new process and clearance system to ensure that a matter such as this is not repeated".

Arbory, Castletown and Malew member Tim Glover told the minister the video had been "a big triggering event for these families" and had "caused immense upset to have to relive those horrific days".

The footage showed "a whole new ghoulish level, rather than just showing machinery", he added.

Poole-Wilson said no consultation had taken place as the footage "was already in the public domain", but she emphasised her "regret at that impact" on families.

"I recognise that individuals have been distressed as a result," she said.

"The video intends to help to protect the public and our visitors from the devastating effects of road traffic collisions that can often be avoided."

This year's TT had seen no fatalities on open roads for the second consecutive year, she added.

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