Brutal Wiltshire cop branded a disgrace (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Brutal Wiltshire cop branded a disgrace

11:49am Thursday 9th September 2010 in News By Jill Crooks

ACC Patrick Geenty

Wiltshire’s Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said Sgt Mark Andrews was a “disgrace” to the police force.

ACC Geenty said: “The officer let the victim down, he let the public down, he let his colleagues down and he let himself down. He does not deserve sympathy.”

ACC Geenty said he was proud of PC Rachel Webb who told a senior officer of Sgt Andrew’s assault on Pamela Somerville.

Asked if he was worried about any tensions between supporters of Sgt Andrews and PC Webb he said: “I would not tolerate any behaviour like that. I don’t believe there are many officers who would support Sgt Andrews.

“All the officers I have spoken to have found the case extremely disturbing. I would expect any officer to blow the whistle on behaviour like that and I am very pleased she did.

“We have made absolutely sure that PC Webb was supported by managers in her division. I will be writing to to show my support for what she did.”

Sgt Andrews was suspended on full pay following his conviction after a trial at Oxford Magistrates Court last month but since being sent to prison on Tuesday the force is no longer paying him.

At a misconduct hearing on October 20 it is expected Sgt Andrews will be sacked.

ACC Geenty said an assistant chief constable from another force to be involved but added: “There is no place in Wiltshire Police for an officer like this.

“Looking at the evidence I find it hard to see how he would not be dismissed.”

The force has apologised to Miss Somerville.

Sgt Andrews had worked as a combined custody sergeant at Melksham and patrol officer for a year before he assaulted her.

Sgt Andrews’ defence during his trial was that he used reasonable force on Ms Somerville, who he said was a difficult prisoner.

But ACC Geenty said: “It was a disgraceful incident. It was totally unacceptable that a police officer should deal with an individual in that way. It was excessive and unnecessary.

“Since this incident, which happened two years ago, nearly 30,000 people have been detained in Wiltshire’s custody suites and this is the only case of its kind.

“I want to reassure the public that people arrested in Wiltshire will be looked after properly and our officers treat people with dignity and respect.”