Lancashire Constabulary staff member dismissed after IPCC managed investigation

A Lancashire Constabulary speed camera technician has been sacked at the end of an Independent Police Complaints Commission managed investigation into allegations that he had failed to carry out his work correctly.

The civilian employee, who worked in the force’s Central Processing Unit, was dismissed by Lancashire Constabulary after a disciplinary hearing conducted by the force.

The IPCC’s managed investigation found that on a number of occasions between September 2006 and May 2007 the speed camera technician had failed to correctly calibrate the mobile speed camera he was using.

This meant that the man, who started his job in September 2006, failed to carry out the set procedures to ensure the distance measurement and alignment were correct before and after the camera was operated. Failure to do this meant it could not be guaranteed the camera had worked correctly.

Video tapes of his work were analysed and 41 of the 435 tapes checked were found to have faults. These tapes covered a variety of locations around the operative’s bases in Blackpool and Penwortham.

And despite knowing that the correct checks had not been made, the operative, who was the highest performing camera technician in the force in terms of offences captured, signed documents needed for court cases to certify that the equipment had been working correctly.

As a result of these failures a total of 545 offences had to be withdrawn, an estimated £35,585 covering fines and payments for speed awareness courses refunded and approximately 1500 penalty points rescinded.

A file was prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service who determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

The managed investigation has recommended that Lancashire Constabulary reviews its training of speed camera technicians and ensures regular checks are made of their work.

Ms Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the North West, said: “This speed camera technician failed to undertake basic checks of the systems he was operating and as a result he undermined the integrity of hundreds of prosecutions. It would appear he was proud of his position as the top performing camera technician, but it would appear he pursued quantity at the expense of quality – and at the expense of hundreds of motorists.

“I applaud the fact that Lancashire Constabulary tackled this issue vigorously and it is worth noting that during the investigation the work of every other camera technician was checked and found to be in order. The decision of the disciplinary panel is the right one.”

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Notes for editors:

The IPCC has overall responsibility for the police complaints system. Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. The IPCC’s jurisdiction was extended in 2008 to cover UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.

The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.

The 14 Commissioners who run the IPCC guarantee its independence and by law can never have served as police officers. No Commissioner has worked for HM Revenue and Customs. They are supported by more than 100 independent IPCC investigators plus casework managers and other specialists.

Since April 1 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to begin 264 independent and 663 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police and other agencies. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.

The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.

The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002.

Media contact:

Ian Christon, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (North Region) Tel 0161 246 8582 Journalists with urgent enquiries about incidents outside normal office hours should contact the on-call press officer on 07717 851157.