WIREDGOV

A police constable who failed to check that a pensioner’s driving licence was revoked, two months before he caused a fatal collision on the M1, has been dismissed without notice by Nottinghamshire Police. The force accepted there was a case to answer against PC Jonathan Mortimer for gross misconduct after an appeal to the IPCC was upheld.

The case was proven at a misconduct hearing which ended yesterday (Thursday, 23 February). The hearing at Nottinghamshire Police headquarters was told that in August 2015 PC Mortimer had received a report from a bank worker concerned that, despite appearing disorientated, 87-year-old Albert Newman had got into his car to drive away.

On 12 October Mr Newman drove the wrong way on the M1 and was in collision with a van near Lockington, Leicestershire. Mr Newman died along with a passenger in the van, Michael Luciw, who was 27. The van driver was also seriously injured.

Nottinghamshire Police originally carried out a local investigation which found that the officer had a case to answer for misconduct and recommended management action. However an appeal against that outcome was upheld by the IPCC which concluded there was a case to answer for gross misconduct and recommended that PC Mortimer should attend a misconduct hearing.

The IPCC’s view was that there were concerns over PC Mortimer’s honesty and integrity in relation to his accounts about following up on the information received from the bank. The evidence also suggested that he did not make proper enquiries before visiting Mr Newman, when he should have done so.

Following yesterday’s outcome IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “The public expect officers to carry out their duties professionally and effectively but in this instance there were serious failings on the part of the officer concerned.

“Clearly Mr Newman should not have been on the road and the tragedy is that not only has he died but also an entirely innocent man who was sadly in the wrong place at the wrong time. We recognise that the force has now taken appropriate action and it is only right that the officer has been held accountable.”