The grieving family of a grandmother killed by a police motorcyclist escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London have announced they are taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police. Helen Holland, 81, died after being struck by PC Christopher Harrison's motorcycle when he sped through a red light in May 2023.
A Tragic Incident and Emotional Court Battle
Christopher Harrison, 68, was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving by jurors at the Old Bailey earlier this week. The veteran police officer, who had served as a special escort rider for 21 years, described the collision as a "tragic accident" during emotional testimony.
The court heard how the incident unfolded on West Cromwell Road in Earl's Court, west London. Harrison was part of a convoy escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building towards the M3. Witnesses described seeing Mrs Holland thrown into the air "like a ragdoll" after the impact. She sustained severe injuries and died in hospital a fortnight later.
Following the verdict, which came after two hours and 25 minutes of jury deliberation, a family member shouted from the public gallery: "You ruined our family with no consequences." Distressed relatives left the court in tears, with one visibly shaking his head at jurors as he departed.
Family's Quest for Justice
Speaking outside court, Mrs Holland's son Martin Holland expressed the family's determination to continue their fight for recognition. "We're not in the slightest bit interested in compensation — it's about proving that mum did nothing wrong," he told The Times. "She would never take a risk. Certainly crossing a road was one of the big risks that was important to her."
Martin Holland also issued a stark warning to the public, stating: "The public want to be very careful when they cross at a green light because the police could kill them."
Helen Holland was described as the "heart" of her family - a mother of four, grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of eight. She had been visiting her sister Dorothy Phillips and was hit just five minutes after leaving her flat to return home to Birchanger, Essex.
Police Response and Safety Improvements
The Metropolitan Police has acknowledged making improvements to its escort unit to reduce the risk of similar tragedies occurring. Commander Adam Slonecki stated: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mrs Holland's family, and we are deeply sorry for their loss in these circumstances."
Significant changes include fitting bullhorns to escort motorcycles to enhance public warnings, supplementing the traditional whistle use. The force emphasised its commitment to safeguarding against future incidents regardless of the court outcome.
Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has determined that PC Harrison may still face gross misconduct proceedings. Amanda Rowe, director of the IOPC, confirmed they found "sufficient evidence to indicate he may have breached the police standards of professional behaviour in relation to his manner of riding."
The investigation also revealed that Harrison had failed to activate his body-worn video camera before the escort, contravening Special Escort Group policy. The officer, who joined the Met in 1982, has been on restricted duties since the collision.
During the trial, the court heard that Harrison was travelling at speeds between 44-58mph in the moments before the collision, reducing to 33-38mph at impact. The road had a 30mph limit at the time, though it has since been reduced to 20mph. Prosecutors acknowledged that escort riders are permitted to exceed speed limits and pass through red lights during operations but stressed they "still had a duty to drive carefully."
The legal battle continues as the Holland family seeks to establish that their mother bore no responsibility for the fatal incident, while the Metropolitan Police faces ongoing scrutiny over its escort procedures and officer accountability.
