Great Yarmouth watchdog investigation too slow, says federation
A police federation has criticised how the watchdog investigated two officers who were seen using force while arresting a man.The police constables were captured in video footage using PAVA spray and appearing to strike a man, who was in a wheelchair, in Great Yarmouth in May 2024.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed last week that the officers would face no further action.Andy Symonds, chairman of the Norfolk Police Federation, said the IOPC should investigate matters more quickly and said officers were "publicly vilified" for doing their job.
"I can think of no other profession around the world that is scrutinised like police officers are," he said. Mr Symonds said the pair dealt with a "difficult scenario" and were "faced with threats of violence"."Officers decided to act as they can't simply walk away," he explained."As a result, they were investigated for an unacceptable amount of time for what was a simple case in which most of the incident was captured on CCTV and officer's body-worn video."He said in the pursuit of justice colleagues could be "unfairly scrutinised, punished or even prosecuted" for making decisions in split-second situations.
In footage taken from CCTV and bystanders, one officer appeared to strike the man several times and a second officer appeared to use PAVA spray.Michael McQueen, 37, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker following the incident outside Londis in St Peter's Road on 20 May.Prosecutors discontinued any action against him, but McQueen was given a custodial sentence in October for separate anti-social behaviour offences.The IOPC investigation found there was no evidence that either officer behaved in a manner that would justify bringing disciplinary proceedings.However, Mr Symonds said damage had been done "reputationally and emotionally"."This intense scrutiny is one of the reasons why we see police officers leave the service," he said.Officers were "regularly expected" to navigate dangerous and emotionally charged scenarios, he said, where material was often shared on social media."To continue to turn up to work and cope with daily life with the question mark on whether you will be charged with a criminal offence or be referred to a gross misconduct hearing, where you could lose your job, is immeasurable."
'Working to improve'
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said the watchdog would investigate police actions without "fear or favour". "Police officers have considerable powers to protect the public and tackle crime and it is right that police officers are held to a higher standard than members of the public," he explained."We know the impact that lengthy investigations can have on those involved, including officers, victims and their families, and timelines is something we've been working hard on to improve, because we know that a slow system doesn't benefit anyone."
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Andrew Bolt demands an investigation into Brittany Higgins' $2.4million payout after she announced her return to the workforce
Andrew Bolt has called for an investigation into Brittany Higgins ' $2.4million compensation payment from the federal government after she got a new job despite being 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment'. The former Liberal staffer made a compensation claim for damages in March 2022 after alleging she was raped in parliament by her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann. He has always denied the claims but was found to have raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities by Justice Michael Lee in April last year - a decision Lehrmann is currently appealing. In Ms Higgins' draft statement of claim, first reported by The Australian newspaper, she had been 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment'. The claim suggested she was therefore due over $2.5 million in economic loss for 40 years' of missed earnings. These claims were untested in court given Ms Higgins was awarded the $2.4 million by payout after one day of mediation talks. Now, Sky News host Andrew Bolt has called for a 'hearing' into the decision. 'I feel taxpayers were taken for a ride by both Higgins and by the government. Shouldn't this payout be investigated?' he asked in a column for Newscorp. 'Indeed, it's now nearly two years since Linda Reynolds (former Defence Minister and Ms Higgins' former boss) rightly referred it to Labor's new National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation. 'It's still deciding what to do, but Reynolds isn't giving up.' A decision in Senator Reynolds' defamation action against Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz is expected later this month. The couple were forced to sell their French chateau they bought in 2023 to pay for their legal bills. Despite once claiming not to be able to work again, Ms Higgins last week revealed she is returning to the workforce, joining the same company where her husband is employed. The 30-year-old is now the director of public affairs at the public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review first reported. Her appointment came soon after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the agency. The pair are working from home as they juggle their roles with looking after their son Freddie who was born on March 2. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment on Instagram with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' It is the first full-time job for Ms Higgins since she was a ministerial media adviser and was thrust into the limelight when she made rape claims against Lehrmann. Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and has interned at the United Nations and has done work for Queensland's Human Rights Commission. Ms Higgins explained her move to Third Hemisphere came after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno. Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment. 'There was this general feeling of "how long do I have to be the story for?" At what point do I get to put it to rest... and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' Ms Higgins said. 'I also have a brand reputation and I don't want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward. 'I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.' Ms Higgins said the role would be her first step in following her role models, including Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, Indigenous social activist and business executive Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate. In her new position, Ms Higgins will work with clients on reputation management and strategic advocacy. She will also handle stakeholder engagement, media relations and public affairs initiatives which create public discussion. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment to Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' In August 2021, Mr Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins shared her alleged sexual assault ordeal with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. Another criminal trial did not happen, with prosecutors citing concern for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann's reputation in ruins with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August. After quitting her role as Liberal Party media adviser, Ms Higgins worked on short-term contracts at the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Queensland Human Rights Commission. She also signed a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2021 for a tell-all memoir about her time in Parliament and the moment Lehrmann allegedly raped her. The final 90,000-word autobiography was meant to hit shelves in 2022, but publishers placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues - namely, because the trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted. It emerged this week that Mr Lehrmann is working unpaid as a live-in nanny to the children of a close friend as he awaits further trials.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Scotland Yard chief Sir Ian Blair 'realised we had a disaster on our hands' just five minutes after he called the De Menezes shooting investigation 'fantastic'. Our gripping account of one of Britain's most shocking police blunders continues...
At Stockwell Tube station in south London, Metropolitan Police firearms officers were congratulating themselves on a job well done. They believed they'd just shot dead a failed al-Qaeda suicide bomber, Hussain Osman. His body lay slumped in a seat on a stationary Northern Line train at platform two, his denim jeans and jacket covered in blood. Fearing that he was carrying a device, the officers withdrew to the central hub of the Underground station and called in an explosives officer to check and make the scene safe.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Police still probing crash that saw car plunge off 300ft cliff - killing two: Witnesses tell of watching 'man be pulled from wreckage'
Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two people after a car plunged 300ft from a cliff at a well-known coastal landmark. A car left the road and went crashing into the water at Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight on Friday evening, as holidaymakers looked on in horror. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police confirmed on Saturday evening that two people have died, The Isle of Wight County Press reported. Police have been carrying out enquiries and were seen at an address in Cowes later on in the evening. It has not been confirmed what the scope of their investigation is. Coastguard, police, firefighters and ambulance crews all rushed to the scene, with a man later being 'recovered' from the water. Witnesses watched on as a naked male was pulled from the wreckage and onto the shore. Response teams were then seen commencing CPR on one of the casualties. Photos of the aftermath show the wreckage of the car submerged in the water. With the roof and bonnet crumpled, while coastguard search around it. In a statement released on Friday evening, the police said: 'We're currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland. 'We were called at 7.21pm this evening after a car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below.' Emergency services rushed to the scene and a winchman was lowered from the coastguard helicopter down to the bottom of the cliff. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance landed at Yarmouth where two ambulances, a critical care paramedic and Police had relocated awaiting the arrival of a casualty. Two coastguard teams responded and were stood down in the early hours of Saturday morning. The cliff sits near the world-famous Isle of Wight Needles, which is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30 metres above the water. Near the landmark is a small theme park with a viewing point and chairlift down to the beach, with views of The Needles. The attraction brings in thousands of visitors every year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. The Needles Landmark Attraction was closed by police yesterday while emergency teams attended the incident. Access to the beach, an observation tower and the Needles Old Battery fort were also restricted. Despite the incident, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, named The Round the Island Race, still went ahead yesterday. Yachts passed Alum Bay, where the car fell. The annual event is organised by the Island Sailing Club. The race attracts more than 1,200 boats and around 10,000 sailors a year. It is one of the largest yacht races in the world.
