GMP seeks anonymity for 'covert' cop involved in police chase that ended in double tragedy

Greater Manchester Police has applied to keep secret the name of a 'covert' officer involved in a police pursuit which ended in two deaths. Officers were pursuing a stolen BMW on cloned plates being driven by Brandon Pryde, 18, as it went the wrong way on the M60 - it hit a red Vauxhall being driven by David Faulkner, 66.

Mr Pryde, a labourer from Wythenshawe, and Mr Faulkner, died at the scene. The incident followed a police pursuit through south Manchester which ended in a crash on a stretch of the M60 close to junction 27 in Stockport on May 27 last year.

Inquests into both deaths will be held in July. At pre-inquest hearings held at Stockport Coroners' Court today (Thursday) it emerged that GMP has applied to the coroner for an anonymity order for one of the officers involved, referred to in court only as D9.

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has investigated the crash. It has previously said that at around 10.15pm on May 27, police saw a black BMW travelling on Altrincham Road towards the Sharston Link. The car was believed to be stolen and, after the driver failed to stop for officers, a pursuit began.

The BMW is understood to have travelled onto the M56 and then the M60, before leaving the motorway at junction 27 for Stockport East. It drove back onto the M60, travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway in the direction of oncoming traffic, the watchdog said. The BMW was then involved in a crash with the red Vauxhall being driven by Mr Faulkner.

It is understood the BMW was not being chased in the seconds before the crash at around 11pm.

The pre-inquest hearing into the death