A police officer who attracted widespread criticism for trying to sue a crime victim after she fell while on a 999 call has now come under fire from her own chief constable.
PC Kelly Jones, 33, is reportedly seeking £50,000 from garage owner Steve Jones after she said she injured her leg and wrist while responding to a suspected break-in at Nuns' Bridges filling Station in Bury Road, Thetford.
As reported in yesterday's Norwich Evening News, she is seeking compensation after saying she tripped on a kerb on August 25 last year.
Mother-of-two PC Jones, who is on sick leave for pre-planned medical treatment, has not commented but it is understood she will release a statement today on whether or not she will continue the claim.
An online petition has been launched urging PC Jones to drop the case.
Yesterday, she was criticised by Norfolk's Chief Constable Phil Gormley, who said: 'In twenty-seven-and-a-half years [of policing] I have never heard of this sort of claim before.
'To a man and woman, the staff in this Constabulary understand the risks [of the job]. All of that good work is being undone.
'It is not an action that we are supporting in any way, shape or form. This sort of claim does not represent the attitude of our staff.'
The legal firm representing PC Jones, Pattinson Brewer, has accused the garage owner of not lighting the area properly and not warning the policewoman about the kerb.
But garage owner Mr Jones, 50, said the officer should have brought a torch to the midnight call. Yesterday, he described the last two days as 'eventful'.
He said: 'I want to get back to work now and try and concentrate on running my business.
Simon Wright, MP for Norwich South, said the case was 'shocking'.
He said: 'I think the petrol station owner did everything he should have done at that particular moment.'
Norwich North MP Chloe Smith described the claim by PC Jones as 'ridiculous'. 'It is hardly what people would expect from the police,' she said.
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