London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

‘So it’s the police’s fault?’: Brits irked as BBC reports on accusation Met officer ‘caused death’ of assailant during moped chase

‘So it’s the police’s fault?’: Brits irked as BBC reports on accusation Met officer ‘caused death’ of assailant during moped chase

A London police officer has been accused of “causing the death” of a moped driver he was pursuing during a high-speed chase. The assailant had allegedly been involved in a “smash and grab” theft and refused to stop.

On Monday evening, under the headline “Met officer ‘caused death’ of moped rider during chase,” the BBC reported on the first day of a court case concerning the death of a moped driver who fled from London police in Stoke Newington in 2016. Lewis Johnson, 18, and his passenger Louis Kyriacou, also 18, collided with a pole, having swerved to avoid a van. Johnson died of his injuries.

Kingston Crown Court heard on Monday that PC Paul Summerson, 44, should be held responsible for the death of Johnson. Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford QC told jurors that Summerson drove “dangerously” and “far below the standard that was to be expected” during the chase.

The officer drove his BMW police vehicle at speed through the streets of north London, weaving in and out of cars and at one point driving on the wrong side of the road, the court was told. Summerson had also engaged his sirens.

Summerson vehemently denies causing the death of Johnson by dangerous driving. The court heard that the officer ran to the aid of the injured assailant after the moped collided with the pole. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson and Kyriacou had allegedly been involved in a “smash and grab” theft in the area and were attempting to avoid arrest.

While other media organisations reported on the court proceedings, the BBC received some heavy criticism for its coverage and its suggestive title, which some contended presented the police officer as guilty.

“Let me correct that headline for you,” one person wrote on Twitter, addressing the BBC, claiming that the title should read: “Moped driver dies after crashing when he refused to stop for the Police and tries to outrun a car.”


Others concurred: “wrong again @BBCWorld,” a user chimed in, noting again that the moped driver caused his own death. “If he had stopped and been arrested he’d still be here,” another added.

One Twitter user told the BBC to “have a word with yourselves,” and suggested they shouldn’t have reported the story in such a way, especially as the officer has not yet been convicted.

Another Twitter user accused the BBC of “newspeak” – a fictional language created by George Orwell in his novel ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’; it is often used to refer to propaganda material or an attempt to present a one-sided narrative.

The BBC was also accused of being against the police, with one commenter suggesting the police shouldn’t help next time protesters try to storm its premises.


Some focused on the law itself, rather than the BBC’s reporting. One asked how it was even possible for the policeman to have caused the death when he wasn’t riding the moped.

The report comes as London’s police faces considerable scrutiny from all angles following the conviction of Wayne Couzens last week; he was found guilty of the false arrest, abduction, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard in March and received a whole life sentence.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick also announced on Monday a full review of her police force in order to restore public confidence. Her remarks came just hours after another officer arrived in court on accusations of raping a lady he met on Tinder after the couple went for drinks.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×