Policeman gets £430,000 for unfair dismissal after smashing criminal's car window

[Enemem]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...mash-pensioners-window-went-viral-online.html

In a nutshell. Video of policeman chasing car, stops car, then policeman goes off on one (technical term) on the car, due to public ridicule he is awarded £430,000 of taxpayers money. WTF?

 

[Grayfox]

I read about it the other day.

Your internal affairs found nothing wrong with the actions of the police
Which was smashing the window out with the baton while another was jumping on the hood of the car.

 

[XPOWER180]

Our police are a joke, they think they're so tough but they're actually pathetic. The only people who join the police (in Britain anyway) are the kids who were bullied at school so they have some way of commanding authority upon others. So in this instance yes ok, the old chap failed to stop and why I guess we will never know fully. Perhaps he was just confused and thought it was for someone else - who knows? But the reaction of these police men is shocking but not as shocking as being awarded nearly half a million pounds of tax payers money. I hope he leads a short and miserable life, never able to enjoy his ill gotten fortune.

 

[R.S]

"tax payers money" really, where do you think the money comes from that pays police wages, sick days, super in the first place? Money confiscated from criminals?

What the cop did to the window is irrelevant, compensation for his treatment and effect to mental health in the workplace is what he is getting.

Most people could seek compensation for that kind of thing.

The amount, well that is certainly disputable.

 

[Famine]

In a nutshell. Video of policeman chasing car, stops car, then policeman goes off on one (technical term) on the car, due to public ridicule he is awarded £430,000 of taxpayers money. WTF?

In a better nutshell, police pull over a Range Rover with heavily tinted windows which then makes off without warning as they approach the car. Following a chase, and with no idea of the demographic status of the occupants, the vehicle is stopped and one officer smashes the window to remove the keys in order to prevent the 2.5 ton vehicle being used as a weapon against his colleagues and innocent motorists. Again. Due to "hurt feelings", the criminal driver was awarded £65,000 of taxpayers money, making it the priciest piece of glass that ever existed. WTF?

In other news, the policeman who put himself at risk was unfairly moved out of his job and forced to resign. The force was found liable for constructive dismissal by an employment tribunal and ordered to pay for lost earnings and pension contributions for an officer 15 years away from retirement.

Incidentally, the thread title is inaccurate - PC Baillon never attacked Mr. Whatley, merely putting in the window of his car after he illegally made off and drove dangerously for nearly 20 minutes to evade police. Since Gwent Police, Mr. Baillon and Mr. Whatley are all feeling rather litigious at the moment, you'll want to change that so it's not a falsehood.

Also, Daily Mail

 

[Grayfox]

If it was too dark it wouldn't have passed MOT.

And since it was an old chap, he is not the kind of person to mod their vehicle in such a manner.

 

[Famine]

If it was too dark it wouldn't have passed MOT.

MOT is a once-a-year affair - which may not have even applied to the vehicle at the time (if it was sold after October 2008) due to its age. A valid MOT one day a year is no guarantee of roadworthiness the other 364/5 days and indeed there are many vehicles whose window tints do not meet roadworthiness standards.

And since it was an old chap, he is not the kind of person to mod their vehicle in such a manner.

You'd be surprised. Nevertheless, he is an old chap and his windows are heavily tinted.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Well since I don't know what kind of payouts are awarded for loss of earnings and pension I'm not sure if £430k is excessive or not.

Either way, failure to stop after a 17 minutes chase means either the guy is running, has something to hide, or probably shouldn't be behind the wheel in the first place - if it had been some welsh teenager in a modified hot hatch I doubt the 'news'papers would be spinning it this way.

Our police are a joke, they think they're so tough but they're actually pathetic. The only people who join the police (in Britain anyway) are the kids who were bullied at school so they have some way of commanding authority upon others.

Interesting sweeping generalisation.

 

[Famine]

Well since I don't know what kind of payouts are awarded for loss of earnings and pension I'm not sure if £430k is excessive or not.

He's currently 42, which means he would have been around 40 when he was forced sideways and quit. That's 20 years to retirement. Call it 15 to early retirement.

£430k/15 = £28,600pa, for salary and pension contributions.

 

[Enemem]

Since Gwent Police, Mr. Baillon and Mr. Whatley are all feeling rather litigious at the moment, you'll want to change that so it's not a falsehood.

Also, Daily Mail

If you want to change the title I'm happy for you to do it. Police attacks pensioners car would seem to fit the bill. I can't.

If the Daily Mail says it then it's false right? It's reported similarly in other newspapers. Do I really need to copy and paste links? Or can't you use google?

You're missing the point. Whilst the compensation is being discussed. Let's put you or one of your relatives in the car. Is this the way you want to be treated ? The poor bloke could have had a heart attack.

 

[Sureboss]

I don't think Famine would be dumb enough to not stop for Police when requested to do so.

I've no issues with what the policeman did.

 

[Famine]

If you want to change the title I'm happy for you to do it. Police attacks pensioners car would seem to fit the bill.

I'd suggest something nearer reality.

If the Daily Mail says it then it's false right? It's reported similarly in other newspapers.

Oh I'm sure. Under headlines like COP SMACK COMPO SHOCK or ROAD RANGE or something similar.

Do I really need to copy and paste links?

If you like. I'm not wholly sure what it'd achieve though. Possibly something slightly more truthful maybe. Try one of your "alternative press" sources.

Mind you, the Mail's brand of journalism is so far from sensible and measured truth reporting that many people have browser plugins that actively block their website, such as KittenBlock, so a source that isn't the Daily Mail might get some more thread visits.

Or can't you use google?

Could do, but then I didn't create the thread. Surely if you're so motivated by a news story to post a thread, you'd do your best to find multiple sources of this information rather than just the one?

Let's put you or one of your relatives in the car. Is this the way you want to be treated ?

Yep.

The poor bloke could have had a heart attack.

He should probably not have driven off and then lead them on the 17 minute chase then - that sort of thing is very stressful.

Let's put you or one of your relatives on the road in his path. Isn't this exactly what you want the police to protect you from?

How about putting you or one of your relatives in the shoes of the policeman who was directly in front of the car when PC Baillon was (trying to ) smash the window to get the keys out and prevent the car from being used as a weapon again?

Why does my presence or the presence of a relative change the situation in any way? Is justice relative to who the criminal is?

 

[Maccer_42]

All of that show of force and hassle and drama to stop a driver who wasn't wearing his seat belt...
Was it really necessary to chase him down all because he wasn't wearing his seat belt?
What a danger to the public, that scumbag no seat belt wearing criminal!
Just seems like a total waste of Police resources and time to be enforcing laws like that.

The Cop who jumped onto the bonnet is a lunatic and going to end up getting someone charged with attempted murder one day with antics like that.

 

[MSTER232]

I'm no economics expert but I love the way this guy gets 430 grand wasted on him for being an idiot and the UK is in financial crisis. It would have been better spent on other things.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I'm no expert but would the Police not have used there Insurance to satisfy the claim?

 

[niky]

All of that show of force and hassle and drama to stop a driver who wasn't wearing his seat belt...
Was it really necessary to chase him down all because he wasn't wearing his seat belt?
What a danger to the public, that scumbag no seat belt wearing criminal!
Just seems like a total waste of Police resources and time to be enforcing laws like that.

The Cop who jumped onto the bonnet is a lunatic and going to end up getting someone charged with attempted murder one day with antics like that.

I'm no economics expert but I love the way this guy gets 430 grand wasted on him for being an idiot and the UK is in financial crisis. It would have been better spent on other things.

To save Famine from having to type it again:

In a better nutshell, police pull over a Range Rover with heavily tinted windows which then makes off without warning as they approach the car. Following a chase, and with no idea of the demographic status of the occupants, the vehicle is stopped and one officer smashes the window to remove the keys in order to prevent the 2.5 ton vehicle being used as a weapon against his colleagues and innocent motorists. Again. Due to "hurt feelings", the criminal driver was awarded £65,000 of taxpayers money, making it the priciest piece of glass that ever existed. WTF?

In other news, the policeman who put himself at risk was unfairly moved out of his job and forced to resign. The force was found liable for constructive dismissal by an employment tribunal and ordered to pay for lost earnings and pension contributions for an officer 15 years away from retirement.

Incidentally, the thread title is inaccurate - PC Baillon never attacked Mr. Whatley, merely putting in the window of his car after he illegally made off and drove dangerously for nearly 20 minutes to evade police. Since Gwent Police, Mr. Baillon and Mr. Whatley are all feeling rather litigious at the moment, you'll want to change that so it's not a falsehood.

Also, Daily Mail

Yes, Daily Mail.

 

[Enemem]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...0000-payout-nowhere-near-compensates-him.html

http://money.aol.co.uk/2014/02/06/policemans-430k-compensation-over-viral-video/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-26064960

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.c...llowing-Tube/story-20572203-detail/story.html

http://news168.co.uk/index/officer-...s-£430000-payout-nowhere-near-compensates-him

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cop-mocked-smashing-oaps-car-3115198

Why does my presence or the presence of a relative change the situation in any way? Is justice relative to who the criminal is?

Sometimes people only look at things from one point of view. It helps to consider other viewpoints. And if you're going to tell me that you look at other viewpoints already, then you might want to consider why you asked the question, since you probably knew it was a poor question, rather than ask me why I posted that.

Justice is not the point, since it appears that it doesn't have any place in a court of law. In court law is the point.

I'm no expert but would the Police not have used there Insurance to satisfy the claim?

Who pays the insurance leeches? We do.

 

[Famine]

Sometimes people only look at things from one point of view. It helps to consider other viewpoints. And if you're going to tell me that you look at other viewpoints already, then you might want to consider why you asked the question, since you probably knew it was a poor question, rather than ask me why I posted that.

Anyone speak Jive?

Justice is not the point, since it appears that it doesn't have any place in a court of law. In court law is the point.

Then you shouldn't have an issue. Mr. Whatley was fined for the original offence for which he was stopped - driving without a seatbelt - and Mr. Baillon was found by an employment tribunal to have been unfairly constructively dismissed by Gwent Police and awarded £430,000 for loss of earnings and pension contributions. Thus PC Baillon was in the right, and Mr. Whatley was in the wrong along with Gwent Police.

All according to the law. So. Are we done now?

 

[Akmuq]

Our police are a joke, they think they're so tough but they're actually pathetic. The only people who join the police (in Britain anyway) are the kids who were bullied at school so they have some way of commanding authority upon others.

Shut up. You don't know every police officer in Britain, they're not the ones who are pathetic anyway...

 

[Liquid]

Yeah, don't forget the freemasons who are coppers too!

 

[Enemem]

Anyone speak Jive?Then you shouldn't have an issue. Mr. Whatley was fined for the original offence for which he was stopped - driving without a seatbelt - and Mr. Baillon was found by an employment tribunal to have been unfairly constructively dismissed by Gwent Police and awarded £430,000 for loss of earnings and pension contributions. Thus PC Baillon was in the right, and Mr. Whatley was in the wrong along with Gwent Police.

All according to the law. So. Are we done now?

Would've been better if Mr. Baillon wouldn't have gone off like a stormtrooper and then had the rest of us pay for his retirement. Good way discourage repeat behaviour. How long before another one of these happens? Watch this space.

 

[Famine]

Would've been better if Mr. Baillon wouldn't have gone off like a stormtrooper and then had the rest of us pay for his retirement. Good way discourage repeat behaviour.

Would have been better still if Mr. Whatley hadn't tried to evade the police and then had the rest of us pay for his Range Rover because "mental anguish". Good way discourage repeat behaviour.

How long before another one of these happens? Watch this space.

Indeed. All sorts of people now know that if you try and escape a police stop, lead them on a dangerous chase for 17 minutes endangering other road users and eventually are stopped by a policeman smashing your window to remove the keys, you get 200 times more money for your "trauma" than you get fined for not wearing a seatbelt.

Still, that's the law for you.

 

[Enemem]

Yes, you're right. It sucks.

Yes and at 45mph! Within the speed limit-endangering other road users. Hmmm...quite. Show me where it says that he was trying to escape from the police. And show me where it says he was driving dangerously. Having already met Mr Whatley you would have thought that, the policeman would have suspected that he wasn't a danger. What would have happened if he had of knocked on the door. Why did he use his truncheon to smash the window exactly?.

 

[Famine]

Yes, you're right. It sucks.

So then the law isn't the point?

Yes and at 45mph! Within the speed limit-endangering other road users.

Since excess speed is the only possible dangerous way to drive...

Incidentally, 45mph is only within the speed limit if the limit is 50mph, NSL 60mph or 70mph. It's not within prosecuatbale range in a 40mph zone either - but it is for a 30mph or 20mph zone..

Show me where it says that he was trying to escape from the police.

You know the part where he was pulled over by PC Baillon and, while the policeman was on foot alongside the vehicle he drove off and was pursued by a fully-marked car on blues & twos for 17 minutes, only stopping when another marked unit was in his path?

That.

And show me where it says he was driving dangerously.

See above.

You've... you've seen the full video, right?

Having already met Mr Whatley you would have thought that, the policeman would have suspected that he wasn't a danger.

Having been nearly run over by him and then lead on a 17 minute pursuit, he might have re-evaluated his first impression.

What would have happened if he had of knocked on the door.

He might have been unsuccessful in ending the pursuit and with two of his colleagues in the path of the Range Rover he opted not to take the chance.

You never did answer my counter-question on that, by the way, despite my answering yours.

Why did he use his truncheon to smash the window exactly?.

SOP. Also it's a nightstick or baton - we haven't used truncheons since the 1970s.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Seems to me that it would have been SOP here in the states. I have an uncle who is a police officer, so he could tell you that a felony stop, which this would have been as the Range Rover was running from police, would consist of busting the driver side glass, pulling the driver out of the vehicle, then cuff and stuff him while they search the car. There would have been no excuses for this poor chap as he would have been found guilty of felony evade.

 

[Grayfox]

Seems to me that it would have been SOP here in the states. I have an uncle who is a police officer, so he could tell you that a felony stop, which this would have been as the Range Rover was running from police, would consist of busting the driver side glass, pulling the driver out of the vehicle, then cuff and stuff him while they search the car. There would have been no excuses for this poor chap as he would have been found guilty of felony evade.

Yeah looks like he was watching too much COPS.
Watch about jumping on the hood.
The keys were still in the ignition when the cop jumped up so if it was a crim he could have floored and killed the rozzer.

Also the road is narrow and i am sure you have to pull over when safe to do so.
Narrow road with double white lines, blind spots, crests doesn't look like a overly safe spot to pull over.

Windows on the car are not overly dark, just the angle of the camera that makes it look like that.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Yeah looks like he was watching too much COPS.
Watch about jumping on the hood.)
The keys were still in the ignition when the cop jumped up so if it was a crim he could have floored and killed the rozzer.

Also the road is narrow and i am sure you have to pull over when safe to do so.
Narrow road with double white lines, blind spots, crests doesn't look like a overly safe spot to pull over.

Windows on the car are not overly dark, just the angle of the camera that makes it look like that.

Obviously allowances would be made if conditions were unsafe, however I do agree that someone jumped the gun when saying to attempt the felony stop. It may have been department policy, law, or something else that took the decision out of the officer's hands.