The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has found no evidence of misconduct by officers involved in a traffic collision near Lisburn after they stopped a car being driven with its headlights off in April 2025.

The incident occurred on a rural, unlit road from Moira when officers noticed an oncoming car's headlights being switched off. The driver of the civilian vehicle later complained, alleging that police had caused the collision, conducted a wrongful stop and search, and had been rude and unprofessional.

An investigator for the Ombudsman reviewed police body-worn video footage and documentation, including the police driver’s duty statement. The officer, a trained initial pursuit driver, considered the driver’s actions "dangerous and suspicious".

The officer turned her vehicle around, activated lights and sirens, and caught up with the car. The driver took 10 to 15 seconds to indicate to pull over, at speeds close to the 60mph limit, leading the officer to suspect the driver might attempt to flee. To minimise the potential for escape, the officer employed a trained technique called a "front stop," which involves pulling in front of the other vehicle. The cars collided as a result.

The investigation found that the decision to stop the vehicle was compliant with legislation. Furthermore, the allegation of a wrongful stop and search was dismissed, as no evidence of a search of the driver or car was found.

In relation to the complaint of rudeness, the investigator noted the officers needed to quickly assert control over a dangerous situation. After viewing video footage, the investigator found the officer had acted robustly rather than rudely, first ensuring the car was off and the driver was safe. The driver was also captured on video admitting to having been "messing about with the lights" before the collision.

The Ombudsman concluded that officers followed PSNI guidelines in bringing the vehicle to a halt and in their subsequent dealings with the driver, ensuring they did not influence the collision investigation.