A Kent police officer will be given management advice for driving too fast for the road conditions and causing a collision during the 2018 ‘Beast from the East’ storm.
Following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a misconduct hearing was arranged by Kent Police and held on Tuesday 12 May 2020 via video-link.
Police Constable Mark Sloane admitted misconduct and an independent panel found he had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour when his driving caused a collision in Courtenay Road, Maidstone, just after 9pm on 1 March 2018.
The collision occurred during a severe weather system, dubbed the Beast from the East, that created some of the most testing freezing weather experienced in the UK for years.
PC Sloane was responding to the emergency report of a burglary in progress. He was driving 56mph in a 30mph zone when he lost control and collided with one car as it was being parked outside a local shop and two parked vehicles. The driver of the first vehicle sustained a broken collarbone and an officer who was a passenger in the police car broke a finger.
We examined information from the black box of the car PC Sloane was driving which showed the speed he was travelling and that his anti-lock braking system kicked in – indicating he was skidding on ice. We took witness statements and obtained a report from a forensic investigator who attended the scene.
Our investigation ended in October 2018 and in February 2019 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) proceeded with his prosecution.
PC Sloane was convicted of careless driving at Woolwich Crown Court on 9 December 2019. He was fined £450 with costs of £130 and had eight penalty points put on his driving licence.
We gave Kent Police our final report and findings that PC Sloane had a case to answer for gross misconduct. Kent Police agreed and organised the misconduct proceedings this week.
PC Sloane will now be given management advice, the lowest level of misconduct. The panel decided it was “a one-off lapse falling at the bottom end of the scale of misconduct.”
IOPC Regional Director for London and the South East, Sarah Green said:
“When responding to incidents, the first aim of any police officer should be to arrive safely. PC Sloane was called out to a theft but wasn’t able to deal with that incident because of his careless driving. And he injured two people and damaged vehicles as a result.
“The public expect police to protect them – not only was this a clear breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour he was expected to maintain, but driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone during severe snow and icy conditions was careless and put both PC Sloane and others at risk.
“We hope PC Sloane reflects on the lessons to be learnt from this.”
An act of parliament that provides the core framework of police powers to combat crime and provide codes of practice for the exercise of these powers.
Leads and manages the development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The body that represents the interests of all police constables, sergeants, and inspectors.
Deals with someone’s inability or failure to perform to a satisfactory level, but without breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour.
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Department within a police force that deals with complaints and conduct matters.
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A flexible process for dealing with complaints that can be adapted to the needs of the complainant. It may involve, for example, providing information and an explanation, an apology, or a meeting between the complainant and the officer involved.
A flexible process for dealing with complaints that can be adapted to the needs of the complainant. It may involve, for example, providing information and an explanation, an apology, or a meeting between the complainant and the officer involved.
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Quarter 1 covers 1 April - 30 June
Quarter 2 covers 1 April - 30 September
Quarter 3 covers 1 April - 31 December
Quarter 4 covers the full financial year (1 April - 31 March).
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The ending of an ongoing investigation into a complaint, conduct matter or DSI matter. An investigation may only be discontinued if it meets one or more of the grounds for discontinuance set out in law.
List of officers and staff who have been dismissed from policing, or would have been if they had not retired or resigned.
The type of behaviour being complained about. A single complaint case can have one or many allegations attached.
Disapplication means that a police force may handle a complaint in whatever way it thinks fit, including not dealing with it under complaints legislation. This may only happen in certain circumstances where the complaint fits one or more of the grounds for disapplication set out in law.
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A breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour that would justify at least a written warning.
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Disapplication means that a police force may handle a complaint in whatever way it thinks fit, including not dealing with it under complaints legislation. This may only happen in certain circumstances where the complaint fits one or more of the grounds for disapplication set out in law.
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You can request a review/appeal if you’re not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled.
You can request a review/appeal if you’re not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled.
