chases

Paul Sinha, known as The Sinnerman on The Chase, has spoken about an awkward moment he suffered a few years ago, one which he said had forced him to learn the hard way about preparing for the show

The Chase star Paul Sinha has provided some insight into how he prepares for his role on the famous ITV programme. Paul, 56, joined the programme in 2011 and has gone on to become a fan favourite.

Before he was a television star and stand-up comedian, Paul was a GP and professional quizzer. Earlier this month, he sat down with fellow former medical professional, and current comedian, Harry Hill, 62, for an interview.

Appearing on The Harry Hill Show podcast, the pair discussed a variety of topics, but it was after a discussion about some of his scores at the World Quizzing Championships, that Harry asked Paul what sort of preparation he had to do for The Chase, where he is known as The Sinnerman.

In response, Paul said: “Practically, try not to look ignorant, like old and ignorant. Years ago I said, ‘I’ve never heard of John Legend’ on The Chase, and it’s haunted me ever since that I could appear on television as a quiz expert and not have heard of John Legend.”

He added: “So the most important thing is to just keep up with the things that would make you look old if you reveal you don’t know anything about it…I learn stuff every day, every afternoon, every evening.”

Harry followed up his first question by asking if Paul put “time aside” to learn, to which he said: “No….Life’s too short.”

This isn’t the first time Paul has spoken about what life is like behind-the-scenes of The Chase, with the former Taskmaster contestant admitting that although he is competitive whilst playing the game, some parts of it are harder than others.

In an interview with the Metro, in which he touched on his approach to contestants who take on the Chasers, he said: “I don’t mind if they win and it’s close, but if I’m going to stop some real human beings winning money that could change their lives.

“I want it to be as uncontroversial as it’s possible to be, because it’s horrible. But for me, it’s always hard watching the disappointment in their eyes as a large amount of money slips away. I’d much rather not a close thing.”

However, Paul added that, in some cases, he will speak to some of the contestants afterwards, particularly if all four players have won, but not if only one of them has lost.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been ordered not to engage in high-speed car chases and to make vehicle stops only if they have completed specific training, under new internal guidance issued after several drivers were shot in encounters with ICE.

A memo sent to officers in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division and obtained by the Associated Press warned they are not any under circumstances authorized to chase vehicles that fail to pull over. Instead, officers should take down the vehicles’ information for further investigation, according to the memo signed by ICE’s executive associate director, Marcos D. Charles, and dated Wednesday.

The new guidance comes after ICE-initiated vehicle stops have repeatedly escalated when drivers have refused to cooperate or tried to flee. ICE agents have opened fire during more than a dozen such encounters since last year, killing at least four people and wounding several others.

President Trump’s administration has faced internal tension over how to handle traffic stops, which are seen as particularly high-risk encounters.

After fatal shootings of drivers in Maine and Texas in July, ICE officers were directed to temporarily pause most vehicle stops. But the next day, Trump went on social media to direct the agency to continue traffic stops, calling them “one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools.”

ICE has faced intense pressure from the White House to deport more people who are in the country illegally, and its arrests have reached record numbers. At the same time, the agency’s rapid hiring spree last year resulted in some poorly vetted and trained officers hitting the streets.

In a statement, ICE downplayed the significance of the memo, which said the new guidance was intended to replace and amend previous directives issued earlier this year, last year and in 2018.

“Occasionally, ICE leadership issues guidance reminders to law enforcement officers,” the statement said. “Vehicle stops and arrests of illegal aliens continue.”

The new memo outlines steps intended to improve the safety of vehicle stops for ICE officers, drivers they are targeting, their passengers and the public.

The memo told ICE’s field office directors that they must ensure vehicles used for traffic stops have lights and sirens that let the public know they are law enforcement vehicles when activated. Underthe guidance, all officers on the scenes of vehicle stops must wear and activate their body cameras.

In addition, only officers who have completed one of five specific agency training courses can conduct vehicle stops. Officers who have not completed the courses can participate in vehicle stops only “in a support capacity” as passengers and cannot be the drivers of any of the vehicles involved.

The guidance says ICE officers can continue to use a controversial technique known as pinning, which is defined as “using a vehicle or physical barrier to trap or stop a car,” but only if they have received special training. Similarly, only trained officers can use spike strips that deflate tires to prevent drivers from fleeing.

The memo came the day that courtroom testimony highlighted ways in which two ICE officers involved in a vehicle stop, pursuit and shooting that wounded a delivery driver in Austin last month would not have complied with the new guidance.

During a bond hearing for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, testimony showed that the officer who shot him wasn’t wearing a body-worn camera. The ICE officer who did have a camera was driving in a separate car and turned it off during the pursuit.

Prosecutors presented surveillance video that showed an ICE agent chasing Garces Perez at high speeds through residential streets after he fled an initial traffic stop.

Garces Perez faces federal assault charges after investigators say he struck an ICE officer with his driver’s side mirror. That officer then shot into Perez’s vehicle, lodging a bullet in his back, officials say.

Attorneys for Garces Perez have called the charges against him “retaliation” and have argued that the camera footage was inconclusive because it didn’t fully capture the moment when he allegedly tried to flee.

Foley writes for the Associated Press. AP reporter Anna Wilder contributed to this report from Austin, Texas.