Norfolk’s chief constable is to be publicly questioned for the first time about the hit-and-run scandal engulfing his force.
Paul Sanford will be asked to account for how police handled the aftermath of a crash where two officers failed to stop after driving into the back of a motorist.
He will face a series of questions at a meeting held by Norfolk’s police and crime commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie on July 5.
It comes after more than a dozen people have formally lodged concerns about the scandal with PCC since this newspaper revealed it earlier this month.
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Criminal charges against driver PC Karl Warren were dropped after he was said to have no memory of the crash, which occurred on the A146, between Beccles and Lowestoft, in March 2022.
Medical evidence showed he had suffered an episode of transient global amnesia, a temporary loss of memory.
Another officer faces a misconduct hearing for not doing enough to challenge his colleague and delays in reporting the crash which prevented drink and drug tests.
The extraordinary case has prompted outrage from members of the public and from former senior Norfolk police officers.
Police watchdog the IOPC is examining whether to open a review into the case after a complaint by the victim against Norfolk Constabulary.
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Mr Orpen-Smellie said he planned to ask the chief constable whether the accident should be reinvestigated and whether a broader investigation into the handling of the case was needed.
“It is disappointing that this incident took place – the officers should have stopped and reported this immediately,” he said.
“When the collision was reported, I understand Norfolk Constabulary acted quickly and took proceedings as far as they could.
“The officer driving the vehicle was charged with offences but due to mitigating circumstances, the Crown Prosecution Service made the decision to discontinue the case, not Norfolk Constabulary.”
He said the investigation has been independently reviewed by another force which made no further recommendations.
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“The IOPC is now conducting their own investigation and given that this review, together with internal police disciplinary action, are both ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to say more in public in case I prejudice the outcome of either,” he added.
Former Norfolk PCC Stephen Bett, who oversaw policing between 2012 and 2016, said he found the case “surprising”.
“I have never come across a case before where amnesia was used as a defence in this way,” he added.
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