Sheena McDonald survived being hit by a police van

The dangers of police pursuits was highlighted in February 1999 when Channel 4 newsreader Sheena McDonald was knocked down by a police van in Islington, north London.

Ms McDonald survived serious head injuries but has campaigned for better control of police drivers.

The driver of the van which hit her, PC Glenn Whiteley, was later acquitted of driving without due care and attention.

The PCA said a doctor should be called to see all detainees who had more than 150 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams.

'Need for nurses'

Nurses should also be employed at major custody centres, said the report.

The PCA said all staff, not just sergeants, should attend training courses before taking up their duties in the custody suite.

It said training should cover areas such as how to deal with drunken and aggressive prisoners, caring for suspected drug addicts, and looking out for the symptoms of cardiac arrest.

The authority wants better training for drivers.

Black boxes

It also wants more forces to follow the Metropolitan Police in fitting "black boxes" - data recorders similar to those used in aircraft - to police cars.

These would register information on matters such as speed, acceleration, and whether the siren and warning lights were being used.

The PCA believes these would not only give investigators vital information about a crash, but also discourage reckless driving.