Police ordered to give cell push sergeant his job back (From Salisbury Journal)

Police ordered to give cell push sergeant his job back

2:09pm Friday 9th November 2012 in News By Journal Reporter

A POLICE officer sacked after being accused of injuring a woman prisoner must be given his job back, a High Court judge has ruled.

Sgt Mark Andrews was jailed in 2010 for assaulting 60-year-old Pamela Somerville in an incident at Melksham Police Station but his conviction was quashed just six days later.

Wiltshire Police was ordered by the Independent Police Appeals Tribunal to reinstate him and the High Court has now rejected the force’s application for a judicial review to be held into the case.

In his judgement, released today, Mr Justice Ouseley said he expected the order for reinstatement made by the tribunal to be implemented "with full regard to its conclusions, and the failure of this unarguable challenge".

Speaking outside Police Headquarters in Devizes following the judgement, Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said he was disappointed with the outcome of the appeal.

But added: “I do not believe it would be reasonable or proportionate to seek any further legal appeal.”

He said the cost of further legal action had to be taken into account and that the appeal had cost the force about £40,000.

Sgt Andrews, who spent several years based in Salisbury, will be reinstated and will be entitled to back pay from the day he was suspended.

Mr Geenty said: “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.

“I expect the highest standards and professional behaviour from all my officers and expect the same of Sgt Andrews.” He said he hoped members of the public would treat Sgt Andrews with the same respect. Ms Somerville had been arrested after she was found asleep in her car near her Colerne home.

Police claimed she was detained for failing to provide a sample for a breath test.

She denied any wrongdoing and the charges against her were dropped due to insufficient evidence.