A police force has been fined £50,000 after failing to produce video footage of an arrest.
Northamptonshire Police was found to be “willfully disobedient” after failing to hand over video of a 2021 arrest.
Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet was found to be liable and in contempt of court at the Court of Appeal.
Nadine Buzzard-Quashie was arrested in September 2021 and said she was physically assaulted by the officers, thrown to the ground, and her face was pushed into stinging nettles.
She was taken into custody but not charged, and later asked to see the body-worn camera footage of the arrest.
The police force refused to hand over the footage, and Ms Buzzard-Quashie raised her complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The ICO ordered Northamptonshire Police to hand over all video of the arrest, which the force ignored, which led to a county court judge making another order.
This order was again ignored by the Northamptonshire Police, who said in court they did not have footage to hand over, a position they would reverse in October.
Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet was found in contempt of court
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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE
This meant all statements to the court prior to October were contemptuous, leading to the fine.
Lord Justice Peter Fraser said to the court: “There were five video clips never provided to the appellant, even though they clearly existed.
“The failure to comply is a serious matter.”
The judge said his decision to impose a fine rather than a prison sentence was because most of the offences were committed by people acting on his behalf.
The judge said a fine rather than a prison sentence was imposed because most of the offences were committed by people acting on Mr Balhatchet’s behalf
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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE
Lord Justice Fraser also acknowledged the £50,000 fine would be taken from the budget of the Northamptonshire Police, which could potentially affect front-line policing in the region.
Mr Balhatchet, speaking to the Court of Appeal, said: “I would like to say a heartfelt apology to Ms Buzzard-Quashie, the county court and Court of Appeal.
“The failings of my force in these cases have been appalling and I am speechless in terms of the numerous errors, and the hurt and impact.
“I’ll never be able to put myself in Ms Buzzard-Quashie’s place. I know it would have had an immense impact and continues to do so.
“It’s my responsibility to make sure this never happens again and I’ll do everything I can to ensure that it doesn’t happen.”
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and is separately set to be investigated by the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel.
Its commissioner, Danielle Stone, has requested an independent review into the case, which it plans to complete by the end of 2025.
After her initial victory last week, Ms Buzzard Quashie said: “Northamptonshire police acted in an arrogant and high-handed manner by ignoring my requests for documents, as well as the findings of the Information Commissioner’s Office and a county court order.
“It is astonishing that after four years, I am still battling to get a frank, open and honest response about what they did to the evidence around my wrongful arrest and why.
“I am elated that justice has finally prevailed within the lordship’s judgment, not just for me, but for all of the other little people that have been silenced or obstructed by institutional power.
“I hope that this judgment, and whatever sanction may follow for the chief constable, serve as an important demonstration that no authority is above the law.”