Police apologise to crash victim

Dorset police chiefs have apologised to a man seriously injured in a crash caused by an officer's poor driving.

Pc Marcus Jones was banned from driving for six months and fined £500 after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention.

Clive Goodwin, 61, from Moordown, Bournemouth, suffered life-threatening injuries when the officer's car collided with his in July 2003.

The force's deputy chief constable has now formally apologised to Mr Goodwin.

It is a priority to ensure we have the correct balance between the need to respond promptly to some incidents and while doing so ensure the safety of the community who we serve Deputy Chief Constable Chris Lee

Deputy Chief Constable Chris Lee said: "Dorset police deeply regrets that this collision occurred and I would like to formally apologise to Mr Goodwin and his family for the considerable suffering it caused them.

"We sincerely hope that Mr Goodwin continues to build upon his recovery and regains full fitness as soon as possible."

Mr Lee said Dorset police service was now reviewing its emergency response policies.

Mr Goodwin, a decorator, had to be treated in hospital for four-and-a-half months after the head-on collision on 15 July.

Blandford magistrates' court heard on Wednesday that Pc Jones, who was also ordered to pay £250 costs, was scrambled after a report of a piece of plant machinery being stolen.

Sentence appeal

The court heard that he was driving a marked Volvo police car with its blue lights flashing and siren sounding when he was in collision with Mr Goodwin's Austin Maestro on the B3081 between Cranborne and Sixpenny Handley, Dorset.

The Volvo drove round a bend immediately prior to the collision at 49mph.

Accident investigators said this was the fastest possible speed to take the bend.

Pc Jones had completed a four-week high-speed driving course four days before the accident, the court heard.

A misconduct investigation concerning Pc Jones and his colleague who was in the car at the time is now to be held.

Dorset Police Federation's chairman Clive Chamberlain said Pc Jones would be appealing against the sentence because of the implications for other emergency drivers.