Officer’s actions are condemned
11:10am Thursday 9th September 2010 in
SWINDON’S top cop has condemned the actions of Wiltshire police officer Mark Andrews branding his actions as ‘disgraceful’.
Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett said the actions of Sergeant Andrews who was caught on CCTV dragging 59-year-old Pamela Somerville across the floor of Melksham police station before throwing her into a cell, were disgraceful.
Andrews, 37, who was suspended on full pay after his conviction, was sentenced to six months in jail on Tuesday.
Speaking on BBC Wiltshire yesterday morning, Chief Supt Howlett said: “I’ve been a policeman now for nearly 30 years and I’m immensely proud to wear this uniform as indeed many of my colleagues are.
“When we see something like this it’s absolutely disgraceful and I think we’ve been clear in our condemnation of what we saw.
“If there’s any crumb of comfort I can take from this is the fact that what happened was reported by another police officer and whilst the pictures and the sounds speak for themselves I would like people to remember that most of us we’re here to help, we’re here to do good, we’re here to serve and sadly this has happened.
“I am desperately, desperately sorry for the lady and we can’t apologise enough, but I do take that crumb of comfort that one officer had the integrity to stand up and be counted.”
The images horrified people when they appeared in national newspapers and on TV news at the weekend.
The footage shows Ms Somerville being dragged across the floor of the police station by Andrews before being thrown into a cell. She was lying on the floor for a minute before struggling to get up with blood pouring from a head wound.
Ms Somerville was taken to Royal United Hospital in Bath and needed stitches in a gash above her eye.
Andrews, a former soldier, was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm after a trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court in July.
People in Swindon said what Andrews did was wrong.
Cath James, 61, of Greenmeadow, said: “I think it’s very bad, the fact is he shouldn’t have done it. I haven’t lost my trust in the police, for me personally like everything in life you get the good and the bad in all.”
Her husband Bob, 63, added: “You’re supposed to be able to trust them, you’ve got to show restraint in that position.
Comments(29)
itsamess
says...
11:50am Thu 9 Sep 10
Advocatus Diaboli
says...
12:12pm Thu 9 Sep 10
.
Maybe if she wasn’t so p1ssed that she fell asleep in her car, she wouldn’t be in that situation in the first place.
.
IMO she has no come back.
politicrat
says...
12:20pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Advocatus Diaboli wrote:she fell asleep in her car what a terrible crime!
I have no sympathy for her whatsoever. . Maybe if she wasn’t so p1ssed that she fell asleep in her car, she wouldn’t be in that situation in the first place. . IMO she has no come back.
mrwoo
says...
12:31pm Thu 9 Sep 10
More recently when running a business in the north west, I had an attempted robbery involving 2 people who tried to nick my till which obviously I defended. I rang the police and was told to call back in 30 minutes as they were busy! Of course by then the naughty people were long gone.
I have no trust or confidence in the police.
reality_check
says...
12:44pm Thu 9 Sep 10
.
Our police are a disgrace who have no interest in protecting the public who fund their comfortable salaries and pensions. This makes them worse than the criminal scum they should be dealing with, who at least don't have the audacity to expect us to pay their pensions.
itsamess
says...
1:17pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Clearly you have failed to read the various reports in depth as there was no question of the victim being drunk. A full explanation was given for the woman reason to have been sleeping in her car. No charges were laid and you should accept the treatment she received was horrific. Further the full video shows not only the sustained attack but several other officers totally ignoring what was going on. My sympathy goes with the female officer who had the guts to report the incident and will be undoubtedly villified by colleages. The Police are bound by the law as trusted civil servants--clearly in this case it exposes what happens when an officer loses control and i suggest relied on colleagues to support him.
itsamess
says...
1:21pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Always Grumpy
says...
2:03pm Thu 9 Sep 10
politicrat
says...
2:09pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Always Grumpy wrote:a 6 footer police officer should know better when dealing with a woman whose only crime was to fall asleep in her car after few drinks.
Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.
You must be some gentleman!
BWB
says...
2:24pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Always Grumpy wrote:Would you say that if it was your
Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.
daughter?.
And why was this brute suspended on
full pay. Was not the cctv evidence
enough to kick his a** out of the
force?. Our Police force are no more
than uniformed vigilantes.
Any comment from CC Brian Moore?.
Always Grumpy
says...
2:28pm Thu 9 Sep 10
politicrat wrote:You don't like my opinion - tough. If the stupid woman had co-operated, none of this would have happened.
Always Grumpy wrote:a 6 footer police officer should know better when dealing with a woman whose only crime was to fall asleep in her car after few drinks.
Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.
You must be some gentleman!
Always Grumpy
says...
2:30pm Thu 9 Sep 10
BWB wrote:Fortunately my daughter is far more intelligent than this stupid woman and would not have gotten into this mess in the first place.
Always Grumpy wrote:Would you say that if it was your
Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.
daughter?.
And why was this brute suspended on
full pay. Was not the cctv evidence
enough to kick his a** out of the
force?. Our Police force are no more
than uniformed vigilantes.
Any comment from CC Brian Moore?.
He was on full pay simply because you are innocent until proven guilty.
politicrat
says...
3:40pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Always Grumpy wrote:what a judgemental view you have on someone that did absolutely nothing against anyone.
BWB wrote:Fortunately my daughter is far more intelligent than this stupid woman and would not have gotten into this mess in the first place. He was on full pay simply because you are innocent until proven guilty.Always Grumpy wrote: Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.Would you say that if it was your daughter?. And why was this brute suspended on full pay. Was not the cctv evidence enough to kick his a** out of the force?. Our Police force are no more than uniformed vigilantes. Any comment from CC Brian Moore?.
of course your daughter is intelligent, because so far you are still blissfully unaware of what she is really up to when she goes out :-)
Always Grumpy
says...
3:59pm Thu 9 Sep 10
politicrat wrote:Would you say that to my face? No, thought not you gutless little coward.
Always Grumpy wrote:what a judgemental view you have on someone that did absolutely nothing against anyone.
BWB wrote:Fortunately my daughter is far more intelligent than this stupid woman and would not have gotten into this mess in the first place. He was on full pay simply because you are innocent until proven guilty.Always Grumpy wrote: Looking at the video, the woman certainly didn't help herself, behaving the way she did and in my opinion, brought it all on herself.Would you say that if it was your daughter?. And why was this brute suspended on full pay. Was not the cctv evidence enough to kick his a** out of the force?. Our Police force are no more than uniformed vigilantes. Any comment from CC Brian Moore?.
of course your daughter is intelligent, because so far you are still blissfully unaware of what she is really up to when she goes out :-)
You obviously haven't watched the video and seen the way this stupid woman behaved. You seem so quick to excuse her behaviour, no doubt because that's the way you would behave.
I doubt you are ever likely to have children anyway as no doubt you favour your own kind. Men tend not to have babies themselves.
saymybit
says...
4:53pm Thu 9 Sep 10
It is my opinion that the woman was detanied, she was not going anywhere, the officer should have showed restraint, if she was being verbally abusive, he is trained to deal with that (or should be), he should have done what every police officer has to do every day, they have to take a step back and not get offended, it is difficult but that is what makes a good officer, the sergeant knew there were CCTV cameras but still he could not control his red mist. It will be interesting to see if the WPC who told on him is still in the force in a years time - my bet is she wont be. They might condemn his actions but she has committed the ultimate sin - told on one of her own. I feel for her, I really do.
security word fine-line !!!!
Mysterious Derek
says...
5:44pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Aspect of Story: Officer reports fellow officer's unlawful actions.
Advertisers Commenters' Learned Slant: All the police collude together and cover each other's backs.
SIGH.
Always Grumpy
says...
5:49pm Thu 9 Sep 10
I'm not alone in regularly condemning poliprat for his/her ill informed and often abusive comments. His/her ignorance and inability to accept the fact that he/she is often wrong and others might just have a valid point, brings him/her into confrontation with so many others. He/she clearly struggles with our language and finds it difficult to accept that he/she should attempt to read the stories and other posts a little more carefully before responding. Unfortunately because of his/her poor English skills he/she makes so many mistakes when responding.
I suppose we should allow poliprat a little leeway, but as he/she is such an obnoxious piece of lowlife there's no chance of that happening.
thenoose
says...
6:24pm Thu 9 Sep 10
The officer also got the maximum sentence allowed in a magistrates court for ABH so that should dispel those conspiracy theorists that think he should have got more.
What really annoys me are the idiots out there that preach nothing but negativity about the Police. You will find that most officers are just as disgusted as you are about this case. Nevertheless they turn up for work everyday and do their best. Which is more than can be said for many of you.
itsamess
says...
8:19pm Thu 9 Sep 10
You are no doubt aware that the full video complete with sound was available to the Court as for many years any Police station with custody suites is fully covered by cctv due to the concerns raised as to incidents in Police stations to protect both officers and detainees. The trial was held before a Judge with greater powers. As the officer has now appealed the CPS can counter appeal to have the sentence increased. You must also consider that some 6 officers witnessed the incident of which only one reported the incident. Therefore it is fair to criticise this incident.There are indeed many dedicated officers and it is fair to describe others as more than heavy handed. You can be assured the story will not end there as once the appeal has been heard you can be sure the journos will have found lots more to reveal.
deepforest
says...
8:37pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Well done that wpc!
itsamess
says...
9:30pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Amberflame
says...
9:40pm Thu 9 Sep 10
reality_check
says...
9:55pm Thu 9 Sep 10
thenoose wrote:You sha**ing a copper then moose (or vice versa)? That can be the only explanation for this ill-informed, one- sided and naive little outburst.
As much as I think this officer was out of order, one should also bear in mind that the women in question wasn't a saint either. The reason she was arrested was because she was drunk behind the wheel and refused a roadside breath test. She then acted the idiot in custody in an attempt to avoid the drink drive procedure which was never carried out due to her injury and her requiring hospital treatment. Hence no charge. Clearly she didn't warrant the treatment she received but she is not without some blame. The officer also got the maximum sentence allowed in a magistrates court for ABH so that should dispel those conspiracy theorists that think he should have got more. What really annoys me are the idiots out there that preach nothing but negativity about the Police. You will find that most officers are just as disgusted as you are about this case. Nevertheless they turn up for work everyday and do their best. Which is more than can be said for many of you.
Always Grumpy
says...
10:48pm Thu 9 Sep 10
reality_check wrote:Typical abuse from reality check when he doesn't like someone elses opinion.
thenoose wrote:You sha**ing a copper then moose (or vice versa)? That can be the only explanation for this ill-informed, one- sided and naive little outburst.
As much as I think this officer was out of order, one should also bear in mind that the women in question wasn't a saint either. The reason she was arrested was because she was drunk behind the wheel and refused a roadside breath test. She then acted the idiot in custody in an attempt to avoid the drink drive procedure which was never carried out due to her injury and her requiring hospital treatment. Hence no charge. Clearly she didn't warrant the treatment she received but she is not without some blame. The officer also got the maximum sentence allowed in a magistrates court for ABH so that should dispel those conspiracy theorists that think he should have got more. What really annoys me are the idiots out there that preach nothing but negativity about the Police. You will find that most officers are just as disgusted as you are about this case. Nevertheless they turn up for work everyday and do their best. Which is more than can be said for many of you.
Chrisg46
says...
9:51am Fri 10 Sep 10
itsamess
says...
12:51pm Fri 10 Sep 10
Either you have not seen the full video and read the court reports as the judge found it neccessary to report a further 2 officers who gave evidence at the trial. I do suggest you read all the reports and evidence.
ron0503
says...
5:34pm Fri 10 Sep 10
itsamess
says...
7:43pm Fri 10 Sep 10
Yes a fair comment. However the Police have still tried to cover up the other 2 officers who gave evidence for the Sgt as the Judge made it quite clear their evidence was not consistent with the facts. I very much doubt any action will be taken.
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politicrat says...
11:19am Thu 9 Sep 10
What sort of masochists are we paying taxes to be beaten, fined and spied upon by a bunch of thugs in uniform.