Police guidelines for carrying out dangerous pursuits on city streets should not shift despite the deaths of two innocent people after one chase, a premier says.
Upgrading the threshold for initiating a pursuit to an offender posing "serious risk to health and safety", as recommended by the state coroner in December, is not on the table for NSW Premier Chris Minns.
The debate has been prompted by multiple police chases resulting in death and injury in the state, most recently two incidents within the space of about 12 hours.
Luke Francis, 31, was charged on Sunday with 11 offences, including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, after he allegedly caused the deaths of two women by hitting them while in a stolen car after a chase.
Another man was transported to hospital with serious injuries late on Saturday night after colliding with a pole when police tried to stop him for not wearing a helmet while on an e-bike.
Mr Minns said he did not agree that stricter guidelines for police pursuits were necessary to protect public safety.
"Police are in an impossible situation when they're dealing with someone who's broken the law," he told reporters on Sunday.
"The safety of the community is being put at risk by someone who's alleged to have stolen a vehicle and driven at ungodly speeds, not because of NSW Police."
Both of Saturday's crashes will trigger reviews with oversight from the state's police watchdog.
Francis began his alleged rampage by punching a 25-year-old man in the face and stealing his red sedan at a petrol station in South Hurstville, in Sydney's south, at about 10.20am.
He failed to stop for highway patrol officers in nearby Beverly Hills minutes later, prompting a large-scale police chase.
Officers pursued the driver along the M5 motorway while the police helicopter tracked him.
The pursuit was called off in the Bankstown area about 10.30am.
"He was driving in what I could describe as one of the most reckless and dangerous demonstrations of driving I've seen in a long time,' Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.
"He was overtaking vehicles at speed in the breakdown lanes, he was crossing over to the incorrect side of the road. All of which without police vehicles around him."
The 31-year-old was tracked by air for at least 40 minutes before he crashed into an Alfa Romeo sedan on the Old Hume Highway in Camden South - nearly 50km southwest from where the pursuit began - about 11.10am.
“The offending driver has gone up the inside of those vehicles at speed, crossed into the intersection and impacted with another vehicle that had the lawful opportunity to turn right,” Mr McFadden said.
A 60-year-old woman driving the Alfa Romeo and an 84-year-old female passenger died at the scene.
The pair are part of one extended family.
Francis did not apply for bail and will re-appear in court on February 26.
Later on Saturday, officers attempted to stop an e-bike rider in Sadleir who was allegedly riding without a helmet about 11pm.
The 39-year-old crashed into a pole and was taken to hospital with serious injuries after allegedly continuing to ride past police for several streets.
Mr McFadden said officers were very close to the man when he collided with the telegraph pole.
