August 20, 2008

With the government constantly looking at new ways to make enough of a meal of minor traffic violations, to slap motorists with an on the spot fine, you’d think that the police force would keep their noses squeaky clean.  That was far from the case when Andrew Carter saw a police van ignore no-entry signs to reverse up a one-way street to reach a local fish and chip shop.

As he’s a local resident, and always obeys the no entry sign, he was moved to protest to the driver. Incredibly his complaint brought a volley of abuse from the driver, PC Aqil Farooq. To make matters even worse, when Mr Carter took a picture of the van then tried to photograph Farooq, the officer rushed out of the shop and knocked his camera to the ground.

Not content with this, Farooq then arrested Mr Carter and bundled him into the van over claims he had 'assaulted' an officer with his camera, resisted arrest and was drunk and disorderly.

He was held in a police cell for five hours before being released on bail in the small hours.  His ordeal didn’t end there as he had to answer bail the following week, with a solicitor, when he had another five hour wait before being told that the charges were to be dropped.

Mr Carter, 44, has since lodged a complaint and has received a personal apology from PC Farooq and Rob Beckley, deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

The force yesterday refused to comment on the case, except to say that the disciplinary process was resolved to Mr Carter's 'satisfaction'.

Farooq, who is a member of the Black Police Association's Avon and Somerset branch, has been subject to no further action.

Yesterday, Mr Carter from Bedminster, Bristol, described the ordeal as a 'very frightening experience'.

The self-employed plumber was walking his dogs when he saw PC Farooq, who was with a female colleague, ignore no-entry signs to reverse along the road in January and park outside a fish and chip shop.

Mr Carter said: 'The no-entry signs mean you are supposed to drive all the way around the block, like I do every night, but there are a fair number of people who don't obey them.

'I was nearly knocked down once, so when the police van did it I sort of said, "Hey mate no entry" but he just shouted out the window, "F*** off, this is police business"’.

'But when I took a photo of them he came running out, battered the camera from my hand on to the floor and arrested me for three crimes, none of which I'd committed.'

PC Farooq and his unnamed colleague allege that they were at the takeaway to examine CCTV footage relating to a separate event.

Mr Carter’s complaint over wrongful arrest led PC Farooq to face a disciplinary tribunal last month, which Mr Carter attended.

PC Farooq made a face-to-face apology at the hearing.

Mr Beckley, who chaired the tribunal, apologised to Mr Carter in writing for PC Farooq's 'totally unacceptable' behaviour and said the officer's future performance will be monitored.

Carter has said he is 'relatively happy' with the outcome, as he hadn't wanted the officer sacked. However, he is still pursuing the force for compensation.

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