Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill to speak to prosecutors over Collette Carpenter case (From Thisisdorset)
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Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill to speak to prosecutors over Collette Carpenter case
9:50am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Latest
Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill to speak to prosecutors over Collette Carpenter case
DORSET'S Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is to request a meeting to find out why a Special Constable, who was involved in a tragic accident last year, is not to be prosecuted.
Collette Carpenter's Peugeot 206 was in collision with biker David Bartholomew on March 20.
Mr Bartholomew died of his injuries.
The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute after they concluded there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction on the grounds that it could not be determined whether or not Miss Carpenter was holding a phone at the time of the crash.
The former Special Constable has now resigned from Dorset Police.
He said: "I have been speaking to some of the family since this tragic case was heard at inquest.
"The public outrage at the lack of prosecution has prompted me to arrange a meeting with the Chief Crown Prosecutor of Dorset, Kate Brown."
He added: "It is not the role of the PCC to challenge individual CPS decisions, but I want the CPS to help me understand the reasons why the two CPS reviews have failed to support a prosecution, and if necessary, to discuss how the law can be changed to deal with incidents.
"As the Rt Hon Chris Chope MP has also expressed concern at the case, I shall be asking him if he wants to attend the same meeting."
Comments(11)
sparkleeye
says...
12:28pm Tue 5 Mar 13
shy talk wrote:Well done to Mr Underhill for this.
“ it could not be determined whether or not Miss Carpenter was holding a phone at the time of the crash”
Not being privy to to the investigation. It is not illegal to hold a mobile phone, however it is unwise to hold anything other then the steering wheel, apart from changing gear. It is illegal to use one whilst driving or stationary with the engine running. I take it the police checked the phone usage records. The law should be amended to state if seen with a mobile in your hand whilst driving you are using it. You could say what about drinking, smoking and eating at the wheel. This is covered by Driving without Due Care and Attention. Which covers a multitude of sins
I would suggest the law doesn't need changing and in fact sufficient law already exists. I think Mr Underhill could do well to look at some statistics and he might see a broader picture of why she wasn't prosecuted ;-)
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sparkleeye
says...
12:29pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Von Karajan
says...
1:59pm Tue 5 Mar 13
sparkleeye
says...
6:52pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Von Karajan wrote:That applies to most of the criminal service, sorry I mean civil service.
Stop finding things to do Mr Underhill in your non-job! What i would like you to investigate ,though , is how 50 year olds can retire from the police force on a nice pension and return 3 years later as a Police Commissioner along with a fat salary and more future pension payouts? Nice work if you can get it?
weyjim
says...
7:27pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Iona
says...
9:28pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Von Karajan wrote:Freud has a lot to answer for, I misread your last sentence. I read a "p" where you put "w". I enjoyed it more on the first reading.
Stop finding things to do Mr Underhill in your non-job! What i would like you to investigate ,though , is how 50 year olds can retire from the police force on a nice pension and return 3 years later as a Police Commissioner along with a fat salary and more future pension payouts? Nice work if you can get it?
Iona
says...
9:33pm Tue 5 Mar 13
sparkleeye
says...
9:33pm Tue 5 Mar 13
weyjim wrote:At least he is Elected, which is a lot more than can be said for many groups and people you should be worried about who are meddling in our law and government !
My understanding of the remit of the police and crime commissioner was to oversee policing and decide on local targets & priorities. I may be misinformed but I didn't think this included operational decisions or meddling in individual cases. Is he just building a political profile/cv? Can he influence cps decision making, if so, you have to worry about the amount of power given to an elected but amateur politician
Von Karajan
says...
10:00am Mon 11 Mar 13
youknowimrightright
says...
10:22am Wed 13 Mar 13
2nd, No this is not part of his mandate, if it was considered a disciplinary issue (which it wasn't) then yes.
3rd, I think Mr Underhill likes the lime light.
4th, He (alone) can not change the law thats done by parliment/house of lords etc.
shy talk says...
12:00pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Not being privy to to the investigation. It is not illegal to hold a mobile phone, however it is unwise to hold anything other then the steering wheel, apart from changing gear. It is illegal to use one whilst driving or stationary with the engine running. I take it the police checked the phone usage records. The law should be amended to state if seen with a mobile in your hand whilst driving you are using it. You could say what about drinking, smoking and eating at the wheel. This is covered by Driving without Due Care and Attention. Which covers a multitude of sins