''The primary duty of a police officer is to protect life and property. This duty comes above all else, including the need to apprehend offenders.'' - Victoria's chief traffic policeman, Kieran Walshe, in an opinion piece for The Age in January.

THE veteran policeman's message would have been questioned by outraged drivers who were ordered to form a roadblock with their cars to bring an end to a wild pursuit of a stolen car on a Melbourne freeway.

A duty of care?

Police ordered motorists to use their cars as a blockade to halt a speeding motorist who was driving erratically.

David Rendina said police told him to pull into the emergency lane near the Epping exit of the Hume Highway as they commandeered cars on Saturday morning. Mr Rendina, who was travelling with his partner and children, aged eight and nine, said drivers were told to fill all the freeway lanes.