Police accused of 'complacency'

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Police deny complacency following conviction of Pc Sean Schofield

A jury has accused Lancashire Police of "institutionalised complacency" after a trainee officer was convicted over the death of a man in a 94mph road crash.

Pc Sean Schofield, 38, of Lancashire Police, was found guilty of careless driving at Liverpool Crown Court.

Peter Williams, 67, was killed when Pc Schofield's marked vehicle hit his car on a narrow country road near Over Kellett, Lancashire, in November 2006.

The officer's car had hit speeds of up to 104mph before the collision.

Pc Schofield, of Morecambe, Lancashire, was fined £500 and banned from driving for two years.

The seven men and five women of the jury sent a note to the judge criticising Lancashire Police for allowing the high-speed training exercise on the country road, which had a speed limit of 60mph.

We believe the Lancashire Police force were guilty of institutionalised complacency with regards to training and driving at high speeds on open, public roads Jury at Liverpool Crown Court

Pc Schofield, who was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving, was testing in-car Vascar (Vehicle Average Speed Computer and Recorder) equipment that involved him chasing a car driven by trainer Pc Andrew Massingham, 41, to register its speed.

Pc Massingham was also acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving but did not face the alternative charge of careless driving.

The jury's note, which Judge Brian Lewis fully endorsed, read: "The course was flawed by poor management, poor design and poor preparation from the highest level.

"We believe the Lancashire Police force were guilty of institutionalised complacency with regards to training and driving at high speeds on open, public roads.

"We believe the practice of 'cascade' training for this particular type of activity, far from reinforcing the importance of health and safety, has actually had a detrimental effect."

Alternative duties

Mr Williams, of Bolton-le-Sands, was travelling to the Yorkshire Dales in his VW Touran with his wife Jean, 65, when the accident happened.

The retired academic suffered severe chest and leg injuries and died in Lancaster Royal Infirmary the next day. Mrs Williams broke both wrists in the collision.

Speed-registering equipment was being tested when the crash happened

Lancashire Constabulary's Assistant Chief Constable Chris Weigh said since the accident the two officers had been on alternative duties.

"In view of today's verdict, both will remain on alternative duties while we digest what the IPCC have said and also what has been said in court," he said.

"This incident can only be described as a tragedy and one of the main things to come out of the IPCC investigation, as well as our own investigations, is how we can try to prevent anything like this happening again."

He said Vascar training was suspended following the crash and would not be re-introduced until a new training module had been developed that incorporated lessons learnt from the incident.

Urgent discussions

The crash was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: "I have noted today's verdicts and I will be seeking urgent discussions with Lancashire Constabulary about the findings of our investigation and whether there will be any disciplinary matters relating to the two officers.

"The key step also is for discussions to take place nationally to determine the appropriateness of this kind of police training."

Outside court, Pc Schofield apologised to Mr Williams' wife, grasping her hand before they hugged.

Mr Williams' son, Geoff, said the family did not "delight in either the verdict or relish the prospect of any particular sentence".

He said while "we can never condone their actions... we do sincerely forgive him for his actions".