Police officer denies death by dangerous driving

Bolton Crown Court hears how an off-duty policeman's motorcycle killed a mother of three

AN OFF duty police officer whose motorcycle crashed into a pedestrian, killing the mum-of-three, is reported to have said: "I'm doomed - that's my career gone" moments after the incident, a court has heard.

The Manchester Evening News has reported tha PC Damien Myerscough's R1 hit a car at speed, the bike then ploughed into Lyndsay Oldham as she walked along a nearby pavement.

Mrs Oldham, 43, who was going on a shopping trip with two of her teenage children, was thrown into a stone wall by the impact and died at the scene from severe head injuries.

A jury at Bolton Crown Court was told PC Myerscough was travelling "considerably in excess" of the 30mph speed limit and had overtaken two other cars before the crash.

Prosecutors said the motorcycle, a 998cc R1 Yamaha sports bike, held no road tax and had a slack chain.

It had also been fitted with an illegal exhaust.

PC Myerscough, of Camden Close, Ainsworth, a serving police officer with Greater Manchester Police's tactical aid unit, based at Clayton Brook in Manchester, denies a charge of causing Mrs Oldham's death by dangerous driving.

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-news/police-officer-denies-death-by-dangerous-driving/5094.html#ixzz1IDUCQu00

Motorcycle news - 9 July 2008

Police Crashes

Inside Out investigates the stories of ordinary people who have been injured and killed as a result of police crashes.

According to the Home Office 126 people lost their lives in accidents involving police vehicles in England and Wales between 2000 and 2004.

West Midland's Police have by no means the worst record of police forces nationwide, but over the years they have had their share of tragedies.

With accidents involving police cars in chases and emergency responses resulting in accidents and injury, the spotlight remains on the tactics that Police are using.

Inside Out investigates two accidents in the West Midlands, one fatal and one involving serious injury.

Serious accident

Just over a year ago, 11-year-old Sadie Stevens walked across a pelican crossing in Birmingham.

She was hit by an unmarked police car on its way to an armed robbery.

For the past 12 months we've followed the investigation into what happened that day.

Crash survivor - Sadie has showed huge courage

Inside Out has asked the police why innocent people are still being injured and killed in accidents involving their vehicles.

We have also followed Sadie as she sets out on her long road to recovery.

Six months on from the accident that left her crippled for life, Sadie is slowly recovering, step by step.

She's been making steady progress.

The impact of the crash left Sadie with a dislocated hip, a shattered left leg and a right leg so badly injured it had to be amputated from below the knee.

Soon Sadie will be able to walk down the stairs. She's just been fitted with a prosthetic leg - it will be the first of many.

High speed tragedy

In December 2005, it will be ten years since Neil Homer from Oldbury was killed.

The Police were involved in a 100 mph pursuit of a stolen vehicle when they hit his car.

It was two days after Neil's 20th birthday.

'Neil was a very special lad... we miss him so much" says his dad

The driver of the police car was found guilty of death by dangerous driving and sentenced to three months in prison.

His colleague was killed.

A decade on the bitterness at what happened hasn't left Neil's father.

Denis Homer still finds it hard to come to terms with the tragedy, "If you try to ask if I forgive, no I can't. I can't forgive the person who killed Neil.

"It's taken a massive chunk out of my life. There are tears - we just miss him so much and I would love for Neil to walk through the door."

When he heard about Sadie's accident, it brought back the memories.

"I didn't think this sort of thing would happen again. It could have been worse for the young girl, even so this sort of thing shouldn't be really happening.

"The Police are the law - they are not above the law…"

Without due care

PC Hibbert, the police officer accused of running Sadie over, has admitted driving without due care and attention.

Police crashes generally result from emergency call-outs

He said that he had misread the traffic lights on the crossing where he hit Sadie.

But he claimed that he shouldn't be penalised as he was responding to an emergency call.

The judge at Birmingham Magistrates Court disagreed and fined him £400 and endorsed his driver's licence.

Sadie's father felt that the punishment was too lenient, "Everybody makes mistakes but he made a drastic mistake and my daughter has to suffer this the rest of her life.

"It's a joke - £1,100 for the cost of a leg... I think he should have been banned."

Intensive training

PC Hibbert got the best driver training that the West Midlands Police could provide.

The force allowed us to see part of the intense course he would have been put through.

Sadie Stevens' story has touched ordinary people

With all advanced drivers getting at least four weeks of high level instruction on top of their basic training, management reckon their drivers are up to the job.

John Colston, Chief Superintendent, West Midlands Police says, "Sometimes the public don't really understand the pressures of being placed on individuals to get to an incident to provide rapid assistance".

Until now the Police have refused to comment on the Sadie Steven's case.

For the first time West Midlands Police are willing to say sorry for what happened.

"I have no problem in apologising to Mr and Mrs Stevens and their daughter Sadie. I'd be quite happy to do that on a personal basis if that helps them deal with the anguish they've gone through."
John Colston, Chief Superintendent, West Midlands Police.

Police officer's anguish

The West Midlands Police are also keen to point out that it is not just Sadie who has suffered - it is also the officer who was driving the car that hit Sadie.

"I've seen the physical an mental anguish that the accident has caused Jamie Hibbert - don't let anyone underestimate it.

Police say they have confidence in their drivers

"He is not prepared to drive police vehicles again... I'm sure that moment will live with him for the rest of his life."

Chief Superintendent Colston says that the pressure on police officers to do a demanding job is often under-estimated by the public.

"I have every confidence in our drivers.

"When you look at the pressures we place on them, that the public places on them in terms of expectations, I think our accident record is actually quite low when you look a the number of vehicles we have and the hours we spend on the road.

"I cannot imagine putting any more pressure on a human being, called to assist another human being who is in a life-threatening situation where a minute or two minutes could result in the death or serious injury of someone."

Words of comfort

Despite the words of comfort, living with what happened is something Brian Stevens and his daughter Sadie is trying to do.

A year on from the accident, he has come back to the site where his daughter was crippled for life.

Brian Stevens is still devastated by the accident, "Our life as it was ended that day… the year as a whole has been an absolute disaster…"

Whether an apology helps or not, Sadie knows things are never going to be the same - but they just might get better.

High-profile campaigns have highlighted access issues

Sadie is making good progress despite the severity of her injuries.

Her physiotherapist, Melissa Berry, is astounded by her progress.

"She's made good progress in a relatively good length of time.

"Considering her injuries, she's done very well indeed."

Her dad cannot believe his daughter's courage after her year-long ordeal.

"Her courage has really lifted us up. We're very proud of what she's achieved so far and we hope what she can achieve in the future."

Sadie is also refreshingly upbeat about the future:

"You don't want to get used to things but you have to
Either way it can't get worse, so my future's going to get better."

BBC Inside Out - West Midlands: Monday March 7, 2005

Police Driving Accidents on the Increase

Most drivers are aware of the rules of the road, and know that driving carelessly can lead to accidents. Driving whilst speaking on a mobile phone or eating food can lead to drivers becoming distracted and unable to drive properly which increases the likelihood of an accident.
When an accident occurs, and injuries have been sustained then the police will often attend the accident scene. In order to reach the scene promptly police officers may use their blue lights to cut through traffic and drive at higher speeds but this too can lead to more accidents. Whilst police officers do have to undergo specialist training the number of accidents caused by police cars on the road has increased over the years. These accidents have resulted in a number of injuries from whiplash to broken bones and in some cases even death.

Figures revealed in Parliament show that the number of car accidents involving members of parts of the police force have increased by over thirty percent in one year. The Home Office statistics show that in 2007/2007 there were 656 road traffic accidents which involved the police, which is a big increase from the reported figure of 472 the previous year. The majority of these accidents only involved police vehicles but up to 100 accidents did involve other cars as well. Surprisingly only 56 of these accidents occurred whilst the police were responding to emergency calls or in high speed pursuits. The number of people injured however did reach a five year high, with members of the police force sustaining whiplash and other injuries as a result of the accidents.

In response to these figures the Conservative shadow police reform minister has called for a revision to driver training standards, in a bid to reduce the number of accidents and relating injuries. Overall however the police force across Britain do have fewer accidents on the roads than the general public but are still liable to suffer from similar injuries which can be very detrimental to their work. For example, if a police officer sustains a whiplash injury as part of a road traffic accident they could be out of action for many weeks. The longer lasting effects of these types of injuries can also be restricted mobility which may require physiotherapy treatment. In addition they may suffer from headaches and feelings of sickness which are all related symptoms of whiplash. For some police officers the injuries incurred may be very serious and result in them being unable to continue in their line of work. This is a worst case scenario as medical advances mean that often treatment and appropriate care can overtime help officers back to work after an accident, however this is not always the case.

Overall training for police drivers needs to meet a high standard due to the nature of their work. But is the responsibility of all drivers on the roads to behave responsibility and not just think about their own safety but also the safety of others, as the consequences of not doing so can be severe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1298975 (no date)

Fury as 90,000 police officers caught speeding are 'let off'

Only one in 200 officers caught jumping red lights or speeding was fined or given points, compared with 84 per cent of ordinary drivers

Only 354 of 90,000 police caught on camera speeding or jumping red lights last year were punished.

Last night forces were accused of double standards after it emerged that only one in 200 officers was fined or given points, compared with 84 per cent of ordinary drivers.

In a quarter of the cases the police cars had their blue lights flashing, suggesting officers were attending an emergency.

However, nearly all of the rest had the slate wiped clean by senior police, saving them from three points on their licence and a £60 fine.

Managers have the discretion to cancel tickets if an officer can persuade them they had a good reason for speeding, such as pursuing a suspect or trying to find a witness.

But critics point out motorists enjoy no such rights and that if they want to challenge a fixed penalty notice they must go to court.

They also say the disparity between the figures raises the suspicion that thousands of officers are being let off even if they do not have a valid excuse for speeding.

Dianne Ferreira, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: "Police officers should not be speeding in the first place.

"They should be setting an example and they should have to face the force of the law like everybody else when they break the rules."

Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said that even if more than a quarter of the cases were emergencies, the figures still appeared "excessive".

He added: "Speed cameras are there for a reason and they should apply to all motorists."

Paul Smith, founder of the Safespeed campaign, said: "These figures will add considerably to the public suspicion that 'It's one rule for them and another for the rest of us'."

The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, cover 28 police forces in England and Wales.

Police said there were 90,480 incidents of speed or traffic cameras being "activated" by their vehicles. The number of officers actually served with a fixed penalty notice was 354.

The total number of officers who have escaped a penalty is likely to be much higher, as there are 43 police forces and figures were unavailable for the remaining 15.

The percentage of fixed penalty notices issued varied dramatically from force to force.

In 2006 in Avon and Somerset 863 police cars were caught on camera and 54 officers ended up paying £60 fixed penalty fines, a total of 6.2 per cent.

But in Thames Valley, more than 4,000 police cars were captured speeding or jumping red lights - and not one officer was issued with a ticket.

The largest totals related to the Metropolitan Police where 48,222 police cars activated cameras and 57 officers ended up with £60 fines and having three points on their licence - a mere 0.1 per cent.

Not all officers found to be at fault were issued with fixed penalty notices. Some were issued with written warnings while others were ordered to attend speed awareness workshops.

The figures will heighten concern that officers routinely drive too fast.

There are around 20,000 accidents involving police cars, vans or motorcycles each year. A quarter occur while the vehicles are involved in an emergency call or in pursuit, rather than on routine duties.

Last year, there were 48 deaths in accidents involving police cars.

A spokesman for the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: "There's an expectation that officers should get to the scene of an incident as quickly as they can.

"Safety is paramount for all members of the public but sometimes officers have to break speed limits or go through red lights.

"But at the same time common sense must prevail. It doesn't give officers carte blanche to be a danger to the public.

"Risks will continue to be there but all our officers are trained to have the peak level of skills and are held accountable when there is an accident."

The Association of Chief Police Officers said each case of an officer being caught by a speed camera should be treated on its merits.

JAMES SLACK

Last updated at 12:27 29 May 2007

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-458310/Fury-90-000-police-officers-caught-speeding-let-off.html#ixzz1IDROPnSq

Night Stalker Delroy Grant was free to rape for 10 years because of police errors

NIGHT Stalker rapist Delroy Grant was free to terrorise dozens of elderly women after detectives let him slip through their grasp.

Blundering police eliminated Grant from their investigation in 1999 – 10 years before he was finally captured.

In that time the Jehovah’s Witness committed at least 146 more burglaries, three rapes and 20 sex attacks. Officers suspect he committed many more.

Grant – who had a string of previous convictions – was flagged up as a suspect by police hunting the predator who assaulted OAPs across South London.

But officers from the £10million ­Operation Minstead inquiry confused him with a man of the same name whose DNA did not match crime scene samples.

The error meant Grant was ruled out as a suspect. A detective went to the dad-of-10’s home but did not question him because he was not there.

Grant, 53, is now suspected of up to 1,000 burglaries and 100 sex attacks on men and women aged between 68 and 93 during a 17-year reign of terror.

The Mirror can reveal how cops made a string of horrendous mistakes that allowed the Night Stalker to evade capture.

Errors included missing a breakthrough when a man told Crimestoppers that Grant could be the attacker.

Police also overlooked a tip from a victim that the predator may have worked at the minicab firm which employed him. Officers listened to psychological profilers who wrongly claimed the rapist could be a respected member of the community with a professional job.

And police chased a red herring that he was from Trinidad and Tobago – when he was actually born in Jamaica more than 1,000 miles away.

Operation Minstead was also starved of resources during lulls in attacks.

Grant was convicted yesterday of a string of burglaries and sex assaults in an area stretching between Orpington in Kent and Warlingham in Surrey.

SORRY

Speaking outside Woolwich crown court Met police Commander Simon Foy ­apologised for not catching him earlier.

He said: “In 1999 there was an opportunity to have identified the offender as Grant but that opportunity was missed.

“It is entirely appropriate the Met now apologise for this missed opportunity that led to his continued offending for so long.

“We are deeply sorry for the harm suffered by all those other victims by the failure to bring Grant to justice earlier.” Police realised within hours of arresting Grant in 2009 that he was already in their system after being linked to a burglary in Bromley, Kent, in 1999.

The break-in featured many of the 23 characteristics of the Night Stalker but the initial inquiry was carried out by a temporary detective at Bromley CID.

A Neighbourhood Watch organiser had seen a black man get out of a grey BMW 5 series, put on gloves and walk towards the house that was burgled.

The officer checked the DVLA database and found the car was registered to Grant at his home in Honor Oak, South London.

The detective searched the Police National Computer and found six men of the same name who had criminal records.

One of them, a man in his 20s, was also flagged up on the Met’s database.

A report featuring Grant and the younger man was sent to Operation Minstead.

But detectives there mistakenly believed there was only ONE suspect – even though the men had different middle names.

Officers found a DNA profile of the younger Delroy Grant and correctly noted it did not match the Night Stalker.

Catastrophically, they logged that the man who turned out to be carrying out the attacks had been eliminated by DNA. A Minstead detective visited his address “as a favour” to Bromley police, who were supposed to pursue the inquiry into the unsolved burglary.

Grant was out and the officer spoke to wife Jennifer. The information was passed to the CID officer but it was never pursued because bosses believed Minstead was still in charge of the inquiry.

EVIDENCE

The Independent Police Complaints Commission found nobody ever interviewed the witness or the victim.

If there had been enough evidence to charge Grant with the burglary, his DNA would have been taken and automatically matched to the Night Stalker crimes.

Two detective constables have received “words of advice” following the IPCC investigation into the errors. ­Commissioner Deborah Glass said: “It is clear a simple misunderstanding had horrific consequences. Police missed the opportunity because confusion led to the wrong man’s DNA being compared.”

In March 2001 a man rang Crimestoppers after watching a documentary about the Night Stalker and named a “Delroy Grant” who had lived in a children’s home.

But the line of inquiry was dropped because a fire had destroyed the home’s records and there was a DNA elimination code against that name.

Officers also wasted time and £150,000 on a controversial DNA “sweep” of 3,000 black men. For a while detectives even blamed the lack of an arrest on the possibility the Night Stalker was a policeman.

Grant would usually crowbar his way into homes by exploiting a flaw in early double glazing. He then removed a pane of kitchen glass and once inside would cut off the telephones and electricity supply, then remove fuses and lightbulbs.

Grant, who disguised himself in a blue cagoule and a balaclava, shone a torch in victims’ faces and demanded sex.

He spent up to four hours talking to the women or walking them around but fled if they shouted at him.

When Grant became aware he could be identified by DNA he began washing victims’ hands and clothes after his assault. He also wore two pairs of pants and several layers of jeans and jumpers.

Often he warned victims not to tell the police, before chillingly telling them: “I could always come back.”

Jon Clements, Daily Mirror 25/03/2011

Judge demands written explanation over errors by police in hammer attack case

THE senior judge for Northamptonshire has demanded answers from the police after a Northampton man was cleared of a hammer attack.

Shaheed Saeed, aged 30, of Esher Court, The Arbours, had been due to face two previous trials, charged with carrying out a hammer attack on August 7 last year which left a 44-year-old victim with bleeding to the brain, two holes in his skull and a tear through his ear.

A trial did not go ahead in January, or in February, and the one which ended yesterday at Northampton Crown Court was plagued with mistakes for which Judge Charles Wide QC said he held Northamptonshire Police responsible. He said: “This is a shocking failure on the behalf of the police. 

“We have had two trials that were due to start – one in January one in February – but the police were not prepared for them. The police hadn’t done what they should have done. The phone records weren’t analysed properly, today the jury were left having to guess what they had done.

“The officer in the case admitted that he had mis-described the man. He said he was looking for a white man; the complainant said no such thing. In a case as important as this, this description was a very serious matter and the police failed to get it right. They failed to prepare for it.

“I want to know what is going to be done about this officer. There are significant wasted costs here.

“There have been terrible mistakes made; I want to know how they happened. I want a letter from no less than the Superintendent explaining why it was the police failed to comply with various orders, failed to prepare for the case.

“I want it on my desk on two weeks on Monday. Because I am seriously considering charging Northamptonshire Police for the costs of the aborted trial.”

Speaking to the jury he said: “I apologise for what has been utter incompetence.”

The victim told police that an Asian man had attacked him and identified Saeed in an identity parade. But an officer recorded he had described a white male. 

The jury was told that if they had any doubt they were to find Saeed not guilty of wounding with intent, which they unanimously did within an hour.

Northamptonshire Police has now vowed to carry out a full investigation. Supt Simon Blatchly said: “It is too early to comment on Judge Wide’s observations but we take them very seriously indeed and our intention is to carry out a full review of this investigation. 

“We will be carrying out a thorough assessment of what happened during the course of the investigation and we will then be able to respond to Judge Wide in full.”

Northampton Chronicle - Published on Saturday 12 March 2011