Cabbie went on to kill nine times after escaping unarmed officers

Jack Blanchard

THREE unarmed police officers were in pursuit of gunman Derrick Bird during the early stages of his murderous spree before he escaped and killed a further nine people, it has emerged.

Cumbrian Police revealed two of their officers frantically chased Bird after he had killed three times but were forced to abandon their pursuit when he turned his gun on them. A third had already given up the chase to help a taxi driver and another woman after witnessing them being shot by the 52-year-old.

But police last night insisted that despite officers witnessing these early shootings and having been in pursuit of Bird's vehicle, there had never been an opportunity to stop the carnage last Wednesday which left 12 people dead.

Cumbria's Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said: "This incident was unprecedented and exceptional. Circumstances were fast-moving and highly dangerous. Had any officer or member of staff had the clear opportunity to stop Bird, I am confident they would have taken it."

A police statement revealed a neighbourhood policing officer first gave chase in a commandeered vehicle after hearing shots in Whitehaven. But after witnessing Bird shoot a taxi driver and his female passenger from his vehicle, the officer stopped to help the victims.

Two other officers in a police van took up the chase but stopped when Bird pulled up and pointed his gun at them.

Thinking Bird was going to open fire, the officers ducked behind the dashboard, losing sight of the gunman's taxi. Bird, who had already killed his twin brother David, family solicitor Kevin Commons and fellow cabbie Darren Rewcastle, went on to kill nine more people before turning his gun upon himself.

Mr Hyde defended his officers' actions, saying: "They were forced to protect themselves after it became clear they could not reverse due to the traffic that had built up behind them. Those officers were putting themselves in imminent danger – they could see the man was armed and he had just shot someone in front of them. That's a situation they were not used to, and certainly a situation I hope they never come across again."

After Bird drove off, the two officers tried to pursue him. "Despite asking passers-by where he had driven, they were unable to locate him again," Mr Hyde said. "These are ordinary neighbourhood officers who go about their normal business protecting the people of Whitehaven. They did everything they could to get to the scene."

Andy Hayman, former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, said: "Their instincts would have kicked in, but their training would have intervened and pulled them back. First and foremost they would have wanted to save and safeguard life, but they would also have not been wanting to act in a reckless manner."

The key question, he said, was how well commanders had then used supporting officers. "Cumbria police have said 40 officers were deployed," Mr Hayman said. "What's critical is where they were used and if they put in the best places at the right time."

The revelations came as inquests into the deaths of Bird and his 12 victims were opened and adjourned at Whitehaven Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard Bird died from firearm wounds in woodland at Penny Hill Farm, at Boot. He was formally identified by his elder son Graeme last Thursday at West Cumberland Hospital.

Coroner David Roberts said all Bird's victims had died from firearm wounds.