It was right that officer should go
Monday 1st June 2009, 2:47PM BST.
GUERNSEY’S police chief could not have been more explicit when he apologised for the conduct of one of his officers who had roughed up a 65-year-old woman.
The PC’s behaviour was below standard and the force issued an unreserved apology and a bouquet of flowers to the pensioner.
This was no borderline case. The Magistrate’s Court convicted on assault and the Royal Court rejected an appeal.
Independent, but professional, individuals considered the PC’s actions. After admitting a breach of the disciplinary code he was asked to resign, a more honourable alternative to being sacked.
Yet despite that, two deputies and a non-States member of Home have decided that the professionals – and the police chief – have got it all wrong and the sub-standard copper should keep his job after all.
Even more unacceptable, the panel has not got the courage to explain their reasons to a frankly bemused island. Courts of appeal do not normally set aside judgements unless there are clear reasons for doing so and they should be disclosed in this case. The reality is that the Home panel has spectacularly botched the job. Reinstating the police officer was the worst possible decision.
It compromises the police chief and questions the adequacy of the work done by Devon and Cornwall as the independent investigators.
What message does that give an off-island force involved in disciplinary or complaint matters locally? Policing is all about the trust and confidence islanders have in their officers.
The chief knows that. So, too, do his staff. What they do not need is to keep looking over their shoulder to see if one of their brother officers with previous is stepping out of line.
One case of bad behaviour reflects poorly on them all, which is why the chief is rigorous – and rightly so – in rooting it out.
Officers have a difficult job and need political support to do it. Three members of Home have effectively said they know better than the courts, the disciplinary process and Devon and Cornwall police and saddled the Guernsey force with a lame-duck bobby with a criminal conviction.
If there is any justification for that, islanders must be told what it is.
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Whoever wrote this report has no idea what they are talking about and no concept of a judicial system and a civil employment tribunal working alongside each other.
Firstly, the panel do no think they know better than the courts. The appeal panel that re-instated was a tribunal appeal concerned with the requirement to resign ONLY. They had no bearing, or opinion on the criminal court that imposed the criminal conviction.
You imply, in effect that no appeal panel should ever reverse the decision of the original hearing. What tripe. What would be the point of an appeal if they were worried about stepping on the toes of the original hearing. This case is simple – independent adjudicators came from the UK to hear the case and decided PC Allen should be required to resign. The local appeal panel consisted of a higher authority than the original adjudicator (as is always the case) and decided the UK officer was wrong. There’s nothing complicated about it. They have the power to decide that and I for one am glad they do.
We hear lots of stories about appeals being upheld and many we agree with. If you don’t want PC Allen in the job that’s a matter for you – but your opinion on the fact does not alter the fact that the appeals system is valid and works.
Finally, if you took the time to avail yourself as to the true facts of the case I am sure you would be glad to see PC Allen, an officer of integrity who made a legal mistake (the words of the criminal court) back at work.
I appeal to everyone to read the FULL FACTS before making a judgement.
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To the EDITORS COMMENT: “The chief knows that. So, too, do his staff. What they do not need is to keep looking over their shoulder to see if one of their brother officers with previous is stepping out of line.”
Absolute rubbish. People who work for the police know the truth. They are glad PC Allen is back at work. The only people the police look over their shoulders for are the press and others who try to hang them out to dry before knowing what really happened.
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