Former police officer sues force over 'distressing, disturbing and quite worrying' investigation standards
A former Devon & Cornwall Police officer claims he had no choice but to sue the force to help drive-up standards
Last updated 2nd Dec 2024
A former Devon & Cornwall Police officer - who sued the force and won - has called for an apology to show lessons have been learnt.
Nick Daffern claims evidence used to charge him was 'flimsy' and usual process wasn't followed.
The 62 year old, who was charged after he intervened in a neighbour dispute three-and-a-half years ago, says it was 'never a case' and he worries standards of policing are falling.
Mr Daffern said: "You would like to think that having worked for them for 30 years that they would make sure that they did absolutely everything right but they didn't - and I think the fact that I was an ex-serving police officer made a certain bias against me."
The now retired North Devon-based officer went to help a friend, who he felt was suffering 'clear harassment', after reports to police had not resulted in action.
Mr Daffern said he felt his version of events was ignored and the neighbours' version 'taken as gospel' - with errors in what he felt should have been 'a fair and proper investigation' and points out CCTV evidence was not able to be used after being deleted.
The former officer was arrested on suspicion of theft and the eventual charge of assault by beating was also later dropped.
He requested an internal policing review and was disappointed by the results. saying: "I didn't think it was dealt with desperately seriously.
"It was just 'ok, well we'll just go and advise the officer to go and read some material to refresh their memory on what to do and how to do it and when to do it and when not to do it'."
The former officer, who had suffered financially as a result of the process, decided to bring a compensation claim - to show lessons had been learnt and the case wasn't just being 'brushed under the carpet'.
After winning, a few weeks ago, he said: "At the end of all that there was no apology offered.
“The solicitor representing me approached them to see whether they intended to and I think there was an immediate rebuttal.
"I found that quite distressing and quite disturbing and quite worrying really - when people are clearly in the wrong that they won't front up and apologise."
Mr Daffern says he would encourage other people to also consider legal action against the force if they felt that learning lessons could help drive up standards.
It comes as - in two other separate cases - the chief constable and acting chief constable are both suspended and under investigations.
The force itself remains under special measures by the police watchdog to try and improve its performance.
What has the force said in response?
In July 2021, officers were called to a dispute at an address in Braunton. Upon attendance, a man was found with injuries to his face and officers arrested another man at the scene.
Once the man was back at a police station, he was interviewed and released on bail. The matter was ultimately discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Force received a letter of claim from the man who had been arrested and a settlement was agreed on a without prejudice basis. As liability was not admitted, an apology was not provided.
Officers stand by the necessity to act following information that was received at the time and believe appropriate action and subsequent investigation took place.
This incident from more than three years ago has no relevance to recent matters related to either the Force being involved in the HMICFRS Engage process or the suspension of senior officers within the Force. To link them is both inaccurate and misleading.
Devon & Cornwall Police remain committed to appropriately and proportionality investigating all criminal matters reported to us.