WIREDGOV

A Cambridgeshire police officer who drove a police car into a man running on the pavement has been given a final written warning following a misconduct hearing.

In the early hours of 28 May 2017, police were called to reports of an alleged assault on St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge outside a nightclub. PC Rowan Huskisson and a second officer attended the scene in a police car. As they drove along St Andrews Street a man who was being held by security staff at a taxi rank broke free and ran along the pavement in the direction of their vehicle.

PC Huskisson, who was the driver, mounted the kerb and the car collided with a 23-year-old man. PC Huskisson was recorded on body worn video footage saying “That’s how you deal with that’ following the impact.

The man sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The police did not subsequently arrest or charge the man with any offences.

The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in July 2017 by the force. Our investigation concluded in November that PC Huskisson may have breached standards of professional behaviour, which if proven, could amount to gross misconduct. Cambridgeshire police agreed and scheduled the hearing.

On 18 April 2018 a panel found that PC Huskisson breached professional standards of behaviour in his use of force, of authority, respect and courtesy in how he conducted himself after the collision and in his discreditable conduct.

IOPC Regional Director Sarah Green said: “PC Huskisson chose to mount the kerb with his police car and collide with a man on foot, who thankfully only suffered minor injuries. This manoeuvre involved a high level of risk and the young man posed no threat to PC Huskisson, or anyone else at that time.

 “Our investigation and Cambridgeshire police agreed that the actions of PC Huskisson may have breached standards of professional behaviour and this has been determined by a disciplinary panel on the basis of the evidence.”

At the conclusion of our investigation a file was also passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) due to an indication criminal offences may have been committed. The CPS decided to take no further action and this decision was upheld after the man exercised his victims’ right to review.