Met Police chief criticises prosecution of officer cleared of dangerous driving
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has condemned the prosecution of a police officer who was acquitted of dangerous driving charges following a crash while en route to a terrorist attack. Pc Paul Fisher, a firearms officer, lost control of his unmarked BMW X5 and collided with several vehicles before crashing into a wall while rushing to the scene of a stabbing spree in Streatham, south London, in February 2020. The officer was responding to reports of terrorist Sudesh Amman carrying out the attack and believed that Amman might be wearing a suicide vest.
After five hours of jury deliberation, Fisher was cleared of the dangerous driving charge at Southwark Crown Court. However, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley expressed his dismay at the prosecution, calling it appalling and stating that it undermines the confidence of all officers using their powers to keep the public safe. He argued that Fisher should have received warnings, re-training, and re-testing instead of going through prosecution.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) responded to Rowley’s criticism, stating that rigorous independent scrutiny is not a threat to policing. Pc Fisher, a former Royal Marine, admitted that he made mistakes but denied that his driving was dangerous. He explained that none of his colleagues had told him to slow down during the drive, and he would have stopped if they had.
During the incident, Amman stabbed two people at random, having obtained a large knife from a hardware store. Pc Fisher was part of a surveillance operation to monitor Amman following his release from jail. Upon receiving reports of the stabbings, Fisher, along with two armed officers, traveled from Gypsy Hill police station to Streatham High Road.
Camera footage from the police car revealed Fisher driving at high speed, overtaking cars, and navigating through traffic. Although the car’s blue lights were accidentally switched off, its sirens were on and its rear red lights were flashing. As Fisher attempted another overtake at Streatham Common, his vehicle lost grip and collided with a taxi. The collision caused minor injuries to the taxi driver and a female officer in the police car. Fisher himself sustained a head injury.
Police officers responding to emergencies are exempt from certain driving laws, such as speed limits and traffic signals. However, the prosecution argued that Fisher’s speed and driving maneuvers constituted dangerous driving, regardless of the emergency situation. Ultimately, the jury found Fisher not guilty of dangerous driving.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) emphasized that their role is to objectively assess whether charges should be presented to the court, and they respect the jury’s verdict. The IOPC stated that their investigation, based on the evidence, led them to pass the case to the CPS.
The incident and subsequent trial have sparked a debate about the appropriate level of scrutiny and accountability for police officers. While some argue that independent scrutiny is necessary to ensure public trust, others believe that such scrutiny can undermine the confidence of officers carrying out their duties in high-pressure situations.
The Home Office is currently reviewing the system to identify areas for improvement. The IOPC welcomes this review as an opportunity to strengthen the system and maintain public trust in the police.
Despite his acquittal, Pc Fisher expressed remorse for the crash and acknowledged that he had let people down. He also highlighted the immense pressure he was under during the incident.
The case raises important questions about the balance between accountability and the unique challenges faced by police officers in emergency situations. It serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in ensuring public safety while upholding the principles of justice.
