Police chief tells of disappointment as appeal over disgraced police sergeant is lost (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Police chief tells of disappointment as appeal over disgraced police sergeant is lost
1:09pm Friday 9th November 2012 in News By Will Frampton
The chief constable reads a statement to journalists on the steps of Wiltshire's police HQ todat
Wiltshire Chief Constable Pat Geenty today told of his disappointment after the force was told it has been unsuccessful in seeking a judicial review in the case of Mark Andrews, the police officer sacked after a woman was injured as he dragged her to a cell at Melksham Police Station in 2008.
Sgt Mark Andrews was jailed in September 2010 for assaulting Pamela Somerville, 60, from Colerne, who was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
His conviction was quashed after just six days of imprisonment but, after Wiltshire Police refused to allow him back to work, the Independent Police Appeals Tribunal ordered the force to reinstate Sgt Andrews. This led to the Wiltshire Force's appeal.
Mr Geenty, speaking from the steps of the Wiltshire police headquarters in Devizes today, described Sgt Andrew’s actions as ‘intollerable, discreditable and a disgrace to Wiltshire police’.
He said he was very disappointed with today’s decision.
“I do not believe it would be a reasonable proposition to seek a further legal appeal,” said Mr Geenty.
“We have to consider the cost of any further appeal and I don’t believe it would be successful.”
He said the appeal had already cost the force around £40,000.
Speaking after giving his statement, Mr Geenty said the decision to go ahead with the appeal was the correct one, despite criticism levelled in the judgement, and he revealed that Sgt Andrews will be entitled to back pay from the moment he was suspended.
He refused to be drawn on what job Sgt Andrews could do on his return to the force or speculate on what treatment he could expect from other officers.
Mr Geenty said: “I expect the highest standards and professional behaviour from all my officers and expect the same of Sgt Andrews.”
He said he hoped members of the public would treat Sgt Andrews with the same respect.
Comments(17)
blackstone
says...
3:09pm Fri 9 Nov 12
He should be sacked and punished
dragon22
says...
3:38pm Fri 9 Nov 12
commonasmuck
says...
5:39pm Fri 9 Nov 12
daddyo
says...
9:08pm Fri 9 Nov 12
Justice has been done.
Glad he is back in his job.
wondering why
says...
10:19pm Fri 9 Nov 12
notscot
says...
6:03am Sat 10 Nov 12
daddyo wrote:Why are you apologising? You either believe justice has been done or you don't.
Sorry, got to disagree.
Justice has been done.
Glad he is back in his job.
Glad he's back in his job? You're in the minority.
A fool who behaved like a playground bully rather than follow protocols caused a monumental mess. He should no longer be a Sgt.
I wonder - how long will it be before Wiltspol pay him off rather than force others to work with him? How much is Mark A. hoping for?
Don Jones
says...
10:02am Sat 10 Nov 12
blackstone
says...
10:08am Sat 10 Nov 12
Is that such a terrible crime??
commonasmuck
says...
1:03pm Sat 10 Nov 12
Don Jones wrote:Whilst I totally abhor drunk drivers and think they should be punished accordingly, are you saying this gives the police the right to treat them as he is "alleged" to have done?.
Am I correct in remembering that the beginning of this whole sorry episode was a pain-in-the-neck drunk driver who ended up getting off scot free?
Cyanide
says...
5:01pm Sat 10 Nov 12
who dat?
says...
10:06pm Sun 11 Nov 12
A PETITION calling for justice for murdered Becky Godden-Edwards has gone live.
The e-petition calls for the Home Office to carry out an urgent review of the application of Code C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/41204
notscot
says...
7:39am Mon 12 Nov 12
commonasmuck wrote:A bad-tempered bully met a badly-behaved drunk - they both broke the rules that day.
Don Jones wrote:Whilst I totally abhor drunk drivers and think they should be punished accordingly, are you saying this gives the police the right to treat them as he is "alleged" to have done?.
Am I correct in remembering that the beginning of this whole sorry episode was a pain-in-the-neck drunk driver who ended up getting off scot free?
Andrews broke all protocols when he dragged her across the floor and tried to get het into the cell. When she hung onto the door jamb he wrenched her off - and she hit the deck face first. Had he utilised the assistance of other officers present - as protocol demands - this wouldn't have happened.
Andrews carries the weight of responsibility for the scenes within the custody area.
Had Somerville been found SOBER in her car - she wouldn't have been arrested, and none of this would have happened.
I think ANY custody Sgt. would have had his or her patience tried - but there was a bad-tempered bully on duty. They caused a monumental mess between them.
He will eventually go - but not before his solicitor has bled wiltspol for a tidy sum.
NO officer or official has the right to vent their spleen on a member of the public. Wiltspol have made it clear what they think of his conduct and this should have been supported by the courts.
But I won't waste too much sympathy on Sommerville. I can't find too many reasons to support drunks that drive.
HughBriss
says...
12:29pm Tue 13 Nov 12
On the other hand, we have all seen what this soon-to-be-reinstate
d bully-boy did and you have to fear for anyone who crosses him in future when he has the impunity to do what he wants to whoever he wants as long as he says, afterwards, that he didn't mean it!
hotcoco
says...
2:53pm Tue 13 Nov 12
No excuses allow for this sort of behavior from someone in a position of trust. Violence is not something the police force should promote.
The police around here have worked hard to earn a reputation of being "fair" (if you can call our justice system that) and to be totally undermined by one arrogant and quite frankly unfit officer is a shame.
Its awful that he has been reinstated and very very wrong.
HughBriss
says...
3:12pm Tue 13 Nov 12
I say, "pull the other one".
notscot
says...
4:01pm Tue 13 Nov 12
hotcoco wrote:One glass of wine??? You fell for that tripe, then?
The woman had one glass of wine, she was not over the drink drive limit. If she had broken the law she would have been prosecuted.
No excuses allow for this sort of behavior from someone in a position of trust. Violence is not something the police force should promote.
The police around here have worked hard to earn a reputation of being "fair" (if you can call our justice system that) and to be totally undermined by one arrogant and quite frankly unfit officer is a shame.
Its awful that he has been reinstated and very very wrong.
She was drunk. She blew over 60mg -pretty much twice the limit!
The monumental mess that ensued after a miserable drunk fell foul of a uniformed bully ensured that she was able to avoid prosecution at that time.
Go talk to her - she's since been done for drink-driving.
When found, drunk & incapable by the police - she was badly behaved from the off.
No sympathy for her.
Andrews is an arrogant bully & the courts should have upheld his sacking.
(BTW - She tried to get her 16month driving ban overturned in Bristol Crown court - she failed)
Ladybiker says...
1:46pm Fri 9 Nov 12