Police officers investigated over crash after Streatham terror attack
Written by News on 02/03/2020
Two police officers called to the aftermath of the Streatham terror attack are being investigated over a crash that took place as they drove to the scene of the stabbings.
The pair, who were travelling in convoy after the attack on 2 February, are under investigation on suspicion of dangerous driving as well as gross misconduct.
One of the officers was driving an unmarked police car when he was involved in a crash with two other cars.
The collision left him and a member of the public with injuries.
His colleague, who was in a marked armed response vehicle, carried on to the scene of the terror atrocity in south London in which terrorist Sudesh Amman stabbed two people.
The pair have been placed on restricted duties and are not allowed to drive police vehicles while the investigation is carried out.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has now said: “We are conducting an independent investigation into a road traffic incident involving a Metropolitan Police car which collided with two vehicles while responding to the terror attack in Streatham on Sunday February 2. Two people received injuries.
“On Friday February 28 we served notices of investigation for dangerous driving and gross misconduct on the officer driving the vehicle involved in the collision and on the driver of a marked police vehicle which was in close proximity to the unmarked vehicle but not involved in the collision.
“A criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow. Misconduct notices do not imply guilt but are to inform the officer that their behaviour and conduct are under investigation and the level of severity. Such notices are not judgmental in any way.”
The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents more than 30,000 officers in the force from the rank of constable to chief inspector, called the move “a complete joke”.
Chairman Ken Marsh said: “The public will be appalled when they hear that brave police officers responding to a terrorist attack can be treated in such a manner.
“What kind of message does this send? These officers and their colleagues put their lives on the line that day to protect the public. Now potentially their careers are on the line. It’s absurd. A complete joke.
“Our colleagues did not know what danger they were travelling towards as the information emerged in real time about stabbings and threats of a suicide vest and explosives. Yet without hesitation they drove towards that danger. Because that’s what police officers do.”
The investigation into the crash is separate to the inquiry into the fatal shooting by police of the Streatham attacker.
Amman, wearing a fake suicide vest, was killed after he stabbed two bystanders, who both survived.
(c) Sky News 2020: Police officers investigated over crash after Streatham terror attack
