Coroner casts eyes over WA police pursuits

A police pursuit through Perth's northern suburbs that led to the death of a 15-year-old boy would not have been conducted differently in hindsight, a senior constable has told a coronial inquest.

The West Australian coroner is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Benjamin Ware, who died from head injuries when he crashed a stolen car during a police pursuit.

In April 2011, Senior Constable Craig Green and his partner were conducting patrols in a marked police car in Ballajura when they saw a Ford Falcon sedan travelling 24km/h over the 70km/h speed limit.

The officers did not know the vehicle was stolen and was being driven by the teenager, who had outstanding court matters in the WA Children's Court and was under the influence of methylamphetamine.

When the boy refused to stop for police, the officers began a pursuit, reaching speeds of up to 142km/h, but lost sight of the sedan after they chose not to follow the car through a red light.

The officers then discovered the sedan had crashed into the brick fence of a house in Noranda, flipping upside down and trapping Benjamin and his 14-year-old passenger, Dylan Eades.

Both boys were taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where Benjamin died.

Snr Const Green told the inquest on Wednesday that he would not have pursued the vehicle if he knew the driver was an intoxicated juvenile because the risk would have been too high.

He said considering the known risk factors of the pursuit, including the driver's willingness to speed, he would do the exact same thing if it happened again.

"The way he was driving the car through the backstreets, I thought he was a competent driver," Snr Const Green said.

Deputy Coroner Evelyn Vicker said the officers had performed a "textbook job" and the inquest was not about investigating wrongdoing but to examine police pursuit policy.

The inquest continues.