Norfolk Police u-turn after confirming officer will face hearing over Suffolk hit and run

Earlier this year the Norfolk force decided not to take action against the officer, who claimed to suffer a medical episode behind the wheel

Norfolk Police's HQ in Wymondham
Published 15th Sep 2023
Last updated 15th Sep 2023

It's been confirmed a Norfolk Police officer will face a gross misconduct hearing - after a hit and run crash in Suffolk last year.

It's an apparent U-turn from the force, which initially said the officer would face no further action.

Earlier this year, the policing regulator ruled a Norfolk Police officer should face disciplinary action, after crashing into a car in Suffolk last year before leaving the scene.

Norfolk Police had previously opted not to pursue action against the officer who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash, who claimed to have suffered a medical episode.

The incident on March 5 2022 happened on the A146 at Barnby in Suffolk as the officers were returning to their station.

The police vehicle, a marked BMW X5, was involved in a collision with an Audi A1 and failed to stop at the scene. No one was injured.

The passenger of the police car reported the incident to their supervisor at the start of his shift the following day, Sunday 6 March 2022.

Norfolk Police launched an investigation after the incident, but decided to only bring misconduct proceedings against the passenger officer for failing to report the incident in a timely manner.

At the time, Norfolk’s Chief Constable Paul Sanford said: “Reports from two independent consultants established the driver had experienced a medical episode behind the wheel, and because of the condition is unlikely to have known what was happening at the time of the incident or have any recollection of it.

"As a result of this expert evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the criminal case.

“In respect of the misconduct investigation, having considered all the evidence, and in line with local and national policy, it concluded the driver had no case to answer."

The policing regulator, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, overruled that decision though.

In a statement, an IOPC spokesperson said: “In June 2023, we received a review application from a woman who was not satisfied with the way Norfolk Constabulary investigated a complaint about its handling of a collision investigation in March last year involving a marked police car and the woman’s vehicle on the A146 Beccles Road, near Lowestoft.

“We completed our review in August and upheld it as we concluded that the outcome of the force’s investigation into the complaint was not reasonable or proportionate.

“We have recommended that the police constable who was driving the vehicle should face a gross misconduct hearing for alleged breaches of the professional behaviour standards relating to duties and responsibilities, and discreditable conduct, for failing to stop and check on the woman’s welfare and failing to report the collision.

“We have agreed with the force’s decision that the second officer, a police constable who was a passenger in the vehicle, should face a misconduct meeting for alleged breaches of the professional behaviour standards relating to duties and responsibilities, and challenging and reporting improper conduct.

“The woman has been advised of our decision and it will now be for Norfolk Constabulary to arrange disciplinary proceedings for the two officers.”

A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: “We accept the recommendation from the Independent Office of Police Conduct and will be proceeding with disciplinary proceedings against the officer driving the vehicle.

"We informed the victim of this decision by letter on 30 August 2023. The misconduct proceedings in respect of the passenger remain ongoing."

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