Sacked sergeant gets his job back
Police chiefs have been told they must reinstate a disgraced officer who was jailed and then freed for dragging a Colerne woman across the floor and throwing her into a cell.
Wiltshire Police have lost an appeal against Sgt Mark Andrews' reinstatement to the force, despite the horrific injuries he inflicted on Pamela Somerville after she had been arrested for suspected drink-driving.
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He was jailed for the assault but was freed on appeal a week later and later also told he could have his job back by a tribunal.
Wiltshire Police fought the decision but have now lost and been told that Sgt Andrews should not only get his job back but be paid the two years of wages he has missed out on.
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The four-year legal saga will end when Sgt Andrews returns to work for the Wiltshire force later this month, in a role that will now be the "subject of negotiation" between chief constable Pat Geenty and the officer and his representatives.
Mr Geenty said that while he still thought Sgt Andrews' actions, which led to horrific facial injuries, were "a disgrace", he had to accept the High Court ruling that reinstated the officer and put an end to the legal challenge.
Applying unsuccessfully for a judicial review into the case had cost the force £40,000 on its own, while the legal bill for previous stages of the saga are thought to have pushed that bill past the £100,000 mark.
The police will also have to pay Sgt Andrews for the period after he was sacked. The officer was originally suspended on full pay pending the outcome of a trial. He was found guilty and jailed but spent less than a week in prison before being released pending an appeal which eventually saw his conviction for assault quashed.
He was then sacked by Mr Geenty's predecessor Brian Moore, and his pay was stopped – but last week's ruling will mean more than two years' pay is now owing to Sgt Andrews, which is thought to total more than £70,000.
The chief constable said: "This has been a lengthy legal process, but one which we believe was necessary and right to follow.
"I will now enter into discussions with Mark Andrews and his representatives in relation to his integration back into Wiltshire Police as a warranted police officer.
"The Police Appeals Tribunal accepted that Mark Andrews' actions were intolerant and discreditable and I felt they were a disgrace – there was no place in Wiltshire Police for this behaviour then, nor is there now.
"I will always expect my police officers and staff to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the actions the force took against Mark Andrews were right and proper to ensure the professionalism and integrity of the force was upheld."
Sgt Andrews will now face a period of "reintegration and training", and Mr Geenty would not be drawn on the kind of role he would end up doing back in the force, but said he would continue to hold the rank of sergeant.
He said the police would now support Sgt Andrews in getting him back to work but he also said officers who blew the whistle on the incident at the custody suite at Melksham police station had done the right thing.
Comments
by Mr_P_Dantic
Monday, November 19 2012, 2:03PM
“Thank you for your input Hmstamaki. Bit of a cheap insult assuming i am some misogynist but to your usual standard of comment so I'm pleased for the predictable consistency at least.Pompeybelle is a well known local commentator and activist whom i respect for her views on many subjects over the years but surely I should be allowed to question her logic even if she is a woman? The same goes for V-V - i have supported the comments of both these women in the past but I don't necessarily agree with their reasoning in this instance.”
by 26sean
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:09AM
“We know a cllr who bullied a woman as far as im concerned people like this are as
low as a slugs ****. perhaps the new wiltshire tory police commisioner would like to give us
his views on police bullying”
by HMSTamaki
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:44AM
“Interesting - that of the five comments below Mr P Dantic's only one was from a woman. No prizes for guessing which one he picked on. That's the message that this judgement sent out - it's OK to bully women.”
by Viscount_V
Friday, November 16 2012, 7:52AM
“Some may say he's merely back for his pension, I doubt you'll see him at the station anytime soon.”
by Staoge
Friday, November 16 2012, 2:25AM
“Policing by consent? Andrews doesn't have mine. In having to reinstate this man, Wiltshire Police stands to lose the trust and confidence of the public. I hope his actions will now be supervised and scrutinised at all times, and that while he's in the pay of the public, he'll be subjected to the kind of brisk disciplinary regime of which he appears to approve.”
by Viscount_V
Thursday, November 15 2012, 11:29PM
“Pompeybelle and myself received no "justice" Mr Dantic, we merely needed to provide evidence of our facts to prove that we hadn't done exactly what the complainant said and by accusing us had actually done him/herself. The fact we're back speaks volumes of our vindication, on freedom of speech and has zero relation to this case whatsoever.
Would you like to elaborate on how we're similar??”
by Mr_P_Dantic
Thursday, November 15 2012, 9:31PM
“Pompeybelle - only a few weeks ago it was you on the receiving end of 'justice.' Perhaps you ought to consider your own advice. The High Court has spoken and Wiltshire Police are willing to abide by the decision of these legal sages, perhaps you ought to too.”
by Pompeybelle
Thursday, November 15 2012, 6:23PM
“I have a message for Mark Andrews - for the sake of the reputation of Wiltshire Police - resign. Now.”
by a1rhellair
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:17PM
“Perhaps they could use ex-back-again sgt Mark Andrews as a battering ram on raids? Clearly, his head is suited for frequent contact with doors and the like. Wiltshire police wouldn't have to do much "reintegration and training" then....”
by davidp2011
Thursday, November 15 2012, 3:04PM
“This is absolutely disgraceful. What message does it send out about police attitudes to women? How can we the public have faith in the police when people like this man are employed? How will his colleagues react?”