Police await High Court decision on reinstatement of disgraced custody sergeant

10:29am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Wiltshire By Chris Melvin

Wiltshire Police is fighting not to reinstate Mark Andrews Wiltshire Police is fighting not to reinstate Mark Andrews

Wiltshire Police are waiting to find out if it will have to reinstate a disgraced police officer sacked after a woman prisoner was injured at Melksham Police Station.

Sgt Mark Andrews was jailed in September 2010 for assaulting Pamela Somerville, 60, and was sacked by the force.

CCTV footage showed him dragging her across the floor of the custody unit before shoving her into a cell.

But his conviction was quashed after just six days in prison.

Wiltshire Police refused to allow him back to work, saying his behaviour was “well below the standards expected” but last December, the Independent Police Appeals Tribunal ordered the force to reinstate Sgt Andrews to his £36,000-a-year job and award him back pay.

The force is appealing that decision and on Friday took its fight to the High Court. A judge is now considering the case and will give his ruling in due course.

Temporary chief superintendent Paul Mills said: "Wiltshire Police sought judicial review of the Police Appeals Tribunal decision in 2011, which concluded that Mark Andrews should be reinstated as a police officer within the force.

"The force seeks judicial review, to reinstate the findings of an initial independent police misconduct hearing that took place in 2010, that concluded the conduct of Mr Andrews was such that he should be dismissed from Wiltshire Police.

"The justice in this matter has retired to consider the application and the force will be informed of the outcome in due course.

"Until such time that the force receives the decision and considers further potential legal avenues of appeal, Mr Andrews will not be reinstated into Wiltshire Police.

"At this time it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Ms Somerville, of Colerne, was arrested for failing to provide a breath test after being found asleep in her car. Charges against her were dropped.

Comments (8)

9:08am Tue 23 Oct 12

trowbridge52 says...

i really cannot see how this man could be re-instated, his conduct was appalling and he should not be allowed back to the police force, how do they expect people to have any respect for him after this, he basically broke the law and got away with it, if that had been a member of the public acting in that way they would of not been allowed to appeal and would have to of served the sentence given, if he gets his way and is re inlisted i think all council tax payers should refuse to pay the part that helps fund the police.he looks like a bully and the way he acted was like a bully.
i really cannot see how this man could be re-instated, his conduct was appalling and he should not be allowed back to the police force, how do they expect people to have any respect for him after this, he basically broke the law and got away with it, if that had been a member of the public acting in that way they would of not been allowed to appeal and would have to of served the sentence given, if he gets his way and is re inlisted i think all council tax payers should refuse to pay the part that helps fund the police.he looks like a bully and the way he acted was like a bully. trowbridge52

7:07pm Tue 23 Oct 12

Tacho says...

You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV.
You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps.
You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV. You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps. Tacho

9:23pm Tue 23 Oct 12

harsh-but-true says...

Tacho wrote:
You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV.
You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps.
I completely agree with the above comment, the media showed a meaty story without showing the full facts and behaviour of Pamela Sommerville.
[quote][p][bold]Tacho[/bold] wrote: You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV. You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps.[/p][/quote]I completely agree with the above comment, the media showed a meaty story without showing the full facts and behaviour of Pamela Sommerville. harsh-but-true

12:28am Wed 24 Oct 12

moonrakin wurzel says...

harsh-but-true, tacho

Wake up ... this officer was reported by and testified against by his colleagues....

If was a case of provocation beyond endurance one must assume he'd be cut some slack .

I suppose you'd stand up for PC Simon Harwood too?
harsh-but-true, tacho Wake up ... this officer was reported by and testified against by his colleagues.... If was a case of provocation beyond endurance one must assume he'd be cut some slack . I suppose you'd stand up for PC Simon Harwood too? moonrakin wurzel

8:11am Wed 24 Oct 12

Mrs Donnyfly says...

trowbridge52 said - "...how do they expect people to have any respect for him after this, he basically broke the law and got away with it, if that had been a member of the public..."

Errr... I don't think he got away with it exactly.
trowbridge52 said - "...how do they expect people to have any respect for him after this, he basically broke the law and got away with it, if that had been a member of the public..." Errr... I don't think he got away with it exactly. Mrs Donnyfly

10:04am Thu 25 Oct 12

trowbridge52 says...

Tacho wrote:
You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV.
You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps.
i never condemed her because i was talking about his behaviour nothing more weather she had been done for drink driving or not really does not concern me, the behaviour of the police officer just draggibng her was enough for me, no human weather male or female deserves to be dragged like that, and as moonrakin wurzel stated his colleagues reported him so for them to be concerned about his behaviour says it all, and as the hearing from the police misconduct board was for him to be sacked from the police force for his behaviour in 2010 i just think should be it now, how could his colleagues that reported him for this work with him again, sorry but i still dont think he deserves to be re instated and if i remember correctly he had been warned about this behaviour before.so i really dont think he should be re instated.
[quote][p][bold]Tacho[/bold] wrote: You don't know the facts of this, you only saw what they wanted you to see. It makes good TV. You also don't appear to have condemned the drunken woman who was arrested in a vehicle,quite clearly she could have killed somebody. Before you start shouting she was innocent and was released, she has since been arrested and prosecuted for drink driving. Not so innocent perhaps.[/p][/quote]i never condemed her because i was talking about his behaviour nothing more weather she had been done for drink driving or not really does not concern me, the behaviour of the police officer just draggibng her was enough for me, no human weather male or female deserves to be dragged like that, and as moonrakin wurzel stated his colleagues reported him so for them to be concerned about his behaviour says it all, and as the hearing from the police misconduct board was for him to be sacked from the police force for his behaviour in 2010 i just think should be it now, how could his colleagues that reported him for this work with him again, sorry but i still dont think he deserves to be re instated and if i remember correctly he had been warned about this behaviour before.so i really dont think he should be re instated. trowbridge52

10:05am Thu 25 Oct 12

trowbridge52 says...

wether sorry misspelt in previous comment and dragging
wether sorry misspelt in previous comment and dragging trowbridge52

11:42am Thu 25 Oct 12

bushranger says...

Why were the charges against Ms Somerville dropped for failing to provide a breath test. Whether or not this officer is found guilty he is now tainted. I'm sure if Wilts Police offered him a payment to go away he might just take it.Surely this has dragged on for far too long !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why were the charges against Ms Somerville dropped for failing to provide a breath test. Whether or not this officer is found guilty he is now tainted. I'm sure if Wilts Police offered him a payment to go away he might just take it.Surely this has dragged on for far too long !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bushranger

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