Merseyside Police have explained why an officer was seen using emergency lights to collect two train passengers from Lime Street station.
The ECHO published a story last week with footage showing the moment a police car used emergency lights to stop in a yellow box junction and collect two passengers from Liverpool Lime Street. Private hire driver Marius Calita, 38, from Tuebrook, had just parked on Skelhorne Street in Liverpool City Centre when he saw a Merseyside Police car pull up in front of him and put on emergency flashing lights.
The patrol car stopped in a yellow box junction and dashcam footage caught the moment the police officer was approached by two women who had just left Liverpool Lime Street Station. The officer was then seen loading the women's suitcases into the back of his vehicle.
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Marius said he was "shocked" and "curious" as he saw the two women get into the police car before it drove off. Merseyside Police have now investigated the footage and have released a statement explaining why the officer used emergency lights to collect two people from the train station.
The officer in the car received a call earlier in the afternoon after a dog walker in his 70s collapsed in Calderstones Park. A fellow dog walker alerted the emergency services.
The officer arrived a short time later and was giving the dog walker CPR in the park until paramedics arrived. He was taken to hospital in a critial condition.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "Officers checked in the man’s dog with local vets and then carried out further enquiries to locate members of the man’s family, who were at Lime Street about to catch a train. Due to the man’s condition and the urgency of getting family to see him in hospital, the officer in the video briefly parked on Lime Street to pick them up and convey them to hospital.
“Although this might appear unacceptable behaviour without context, we are proud of this officer’s swift and compassionate actions, which shows the lengths which our officers and staff go to on a daily basis to serve our communities. The members of the public and trained first aiders at the location should also be commended for their help.”
The ECHO approached the North West Ambulance Service for an update on the dog walker's condition.
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