A driverless taxi being trialled on London streets has drawn attention after it entered a live crime scene while police were responding to a double stabbing in west London.

The incident took place in Harlesden on Wednesday evening (22 April), where officers had cordoned off part of the road as detectives began investigating an attack involving two men in their 20s. Video footage shared online shows the white Waymo vehicle moving into the restricted area, passing police tape and emergency vehicles that had their lights flashing. The car appears to continue forward despite the visible presence of officers and barriers set up to block access.

The vehicle, which is designed to operate autonomously, was later seen coming to a stop within the cordoned area before reversing away after police approached it. Officers can be seen speaking to an individual inside the car before it leaves the scene.

The incident unfolded at around 6.25pm, shortly after emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing on Harlesden High Street. Both victims were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital for further care.

The presence of the vehicle during an active investigation raised concerns, particularly as it appeared to ignore clear signals that the area was restricted, including flashing lights and “Do Not Cross” tape.

A spokesperson for Waymo later confirmed that the vehicle was not operating in full autonomous mode at the time of the incident. Instead, it was being driven manually by a human safety driver who has since been suspended.

The company said,

“We sincerely apologise for any disruption caused by this validation driver, who was operating the vehicle in manual mode. We take this matter seriously and are working with our operations partner to ensure appropriate actions are taken.”

They added that early analysis suggests the car would have responded differently if it had been in autonomous mode, stating that the system would have identified the hazard and stopped before entering the restricted area.

The event has sparked wider discussion about the rollout of driverless technology in the UK, particularly as trials continue ahead of a potential broader launch. While autonomous vehicles are designed to improve safety and efficiency, incidents like this have highlighted concerns around how they respond to unexpected or complex real-world situations.

Police have not indicated that the vehicle interfered with their investigation, but the footage has continued to circulate online, raising questions about how such technology interacts with emergency scenarios.

Testing of driverless vehicles is expected to expand across London, with companies aiming to introduce fully autonomous services in the near future, pending regulatory approval and further safety assessments.