Dyfed-Powys Police officer faces action after car crash
A Dyfed Powys Police officer who crashed into an oncoming car while pursuing a suspect has been fined and now faces disciplinary action for gross misconduct.
PC Phil Thomas received six penalty points on his driving licence and was issued with a £275 fine after pleading guilty at Swansea Crown Court to careless driving while on duty.
It follows a road traffic collision in the Ammanford area on September 29, 2024. PC Thomas, from Llanelli, crossed the white lines in the middle of the road as he took a bend at 59mph and hit a car coming in the opposite direction before slamming into a lamppost.
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The car which PC Thomas hit suffered 'extensive damage' in the collision and its female driver received minor injuries in the form of cuts and abrasions. The injuries were not serious, though she did attend hospital as a precaution.
PC Thomas was originally charged with dangerous driving, which he denied, however he admitted the offence of careless driving which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The officer was removed from frontline policing following the incident and will now be subject to a police disciplinary procedure for gross misconduct.
The court heard how a marked police vehicle, driven by PC Thomas, was following a vehicle travelling at excess speed, when he veered into the opposite carriageway.
He collided with the offside panel of an oncoming vehicle and then hit a lamppost.
Superintendent Phil Rowe, head of the force's professional standards department, said: 'PC Thomas is a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included following and attempting to stop vehicles with the blue lights illuminated.
'But his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances. It is only proper that he has been held to account for his actions.'
Nik Strobl, prosecuting, said PC Thomas and his colleague pursued a white hatchback car outside the Cottage Inn pub after it drew the attention of officers, with the incident happening at around 2.20am.
The court heard the car initially drove at normal speed but when it reached Ammanford College it accelerated away on the 30mph road; the officers illuminated the blue lights on their Vauxhall Vivaro van and pursued it.
As the defendant followed the car he took a left-hand bend but under-steered and drifted across the white lines into the middle of the road where he came into contact with a car coming in the opposite direction.
The court heard the defendant had passed a police driving course in 2021 which permitted him to drive at 20mph above the speed limit in the course of his duties, but at the time of the collision had been travelling at 59mph in the 30mph zone.
Data from the police van showed he had reached a top speed of 68mph during the course of the pursuit.
PC Thomas has been re-deployed from frontline duties since the incident and is subject to a parallel gross misconduct investigation by the Professional Standards Department, whereby a determination will be made by the appropriate authority in due course.
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