The police must be accountable to the community for all aspects of their work and in particular for the results of high speed pursuits where public safety is at risk. The Victoria Police keep limited statistics detailing the costs to the community of police pursuits. The statistics that are available show only the numbers of police and civilians killed or injured as a result of a collision. For the public to be fully informed about police pursuits the Federation of Community Legal Centres believes that detailed and accurate information must be kept and publicised annually. In the United States there have been significant changes with regard to high speed pursuit.
Some departments take pride in the fact that they have very few pursuits.
They won't pursue beyond 35 miles per hour. With such a high density population in the United States, pursuits in any town or built up area are extremely hazardous. It is not surprising then, that pursuits are being downgraded. In Tasmania police road blocks are banned and standing orders direct that officers can pursue up to such speed as is considered dangerous and then must pull out. Current N.S.W. guidelines are similar to Victoria.