A woman was killed when the car she was travelling in ploughed into a tree during a police pursuit.

Officers began tailing the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had been reported as stolen, in Shrewsbury Avenue, Woolwich south-east London, in the early hours.

After a five minute pursuit, police briefly lost sight of the Jeep and then found it had crashed into a tree.

The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital suffering head injuries. He was later discharged and taken into police custody.

The incident has been referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Mereworth Crescent and Shrewsbury Lane at the junctions with Plum Lane, the crash scene, remain closed.

Firstly must have been an early plea of guilty.

I hope the officers involved are OK and will not get dragged too much to hell and back over this.

Out of curiosity what is the pursuit policy over your way? Are you guys supported at all or are pursuits a dirty word?

Over here Pursuit is a dirty word and most of us wont bother with them as it simply isn't worth our sanity, jobs, family or lives.

You have to be authorised to pursue which you will only get by having the correct police driver authorisation.
They are also a political nightmare in this country