LEWES MP Maria Caulfield has called on the government to change laws that prevent the police from pursuing suspected criminals on mopeds when their helmets are removed.

Current laws mean that once a suspect on a moped removes their helmet the police must stop the pursuit as they are liable for prosecution should the suspect have an accident.

This has led to a sharp rise in moped related crime as criminals know full well that they can escape by removing their helmet.

During Home Office Questions Maria Caulfield took the opportunity to raise the matter with Ministers.

She said: “Increasingly mopeds are being used by criminals in daring and violent crimes as they know they are unlikely to be pursued because if there is an accident the police involved can currently be prosecuted.

“The Police Federation is calling for the law to be changed so that police are protected and exempt from prosecution when caring out their role in chasing those breaking the law.”

She asked the Government to support her comments.

In response Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “It is such an important area.

“It is vital that the police have the confidence and the allowance to be able to pursue people when they need to.

“That’s why we’re conducting a review to give them extra clarity that they can pursue these people on their mopeds.”

Speaking afterwards, Ms Caulfield said “Victims of moped-related crime will find it staggering and rightly feel a sense of injustice that the police are forced to let suspected criminals get away for fear of being prosecuted.

“The police should be able to pursue criminals as much as necessary and I’m glad the Home Secretary feels the same and is looking into this matter.”

Meanwhile, the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank and file officers, has written a letter to its members warning that they have no protection under the law if they are involved in an accident.

Police chase laws are also to be reviewed by the Government amid fears that officers are unable to effectively pursue and apprehend moped-riding criminals.

The Home Office will now review the law after leading officials warned that police officers fear being taken to court for high-speed chases because they can be prosecuted for careless driving afterwards.

It follows a huge surge in the number of crimes committed on mopeds in recent months, with the Metropolitan police recording 16,158 thefts in the 12 months to June – three times the number reported during the same period last year.