Senior police officer investigated in arrest footage case
Summary
A senior police officer and two staff at Northamptonshire Police are being investigated for allegedly lying about the existence of video footage in a legal case. The footage shows a woman, Nadine Buzzard-Quashie, being forcefully arrested after she was reported missing, which led to a court case and legal penalties for the police chief.Key Facts
- Nadine Buzzard-Quashie was arrested in Northampton in September 2021 after being reported missing.
- Police used force against her, including wrestling her to the ground; she claims the treatment was degrading.
- Buzzard-Quashie requested body-worn video footage of her arrest under the Data Protection Act.
- Northamptonshire Police refused to provide the footage, prompting her to take legal action.
- The police chief, Ivan Balhatchet, was found in contempt of court for not releasing the footage and fined nearly £300,000.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating a senior officer and two staff for providing false statements about the video’s existence.
- Audit logs showed the footage existed and had been viewed multiple times, contradicting police statements.
- Buzzard-Quashie is suing the police force for assault and wrongful arrest, with a civil trial set for April next year.
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