A Lancashire traffic cop has won £5,000 in damages from the force after he arrested in a row over parking on the road in front of his own house.
PC Roderick Lund, 40, was locked-up when he refused to move his black Range Rover from the road outside his detached home in Lancashire in October 2009.
Next-door neighbour, Anthony Green - a retired Lancashire Constabulary superintendent - called police complaining he could not get into his driveway without mounting the kerb.
Three officers arrived at the four bedroomed house in the small village of Catterall, near Garstang, led by Insp Dave Vickers.
In scenes recorded on video, Insp Vickers says that the car, parked on the road outside PC Lund's property is causing an obstruction.
But PC Lund - a serving officer with Lancashire Constabulary Traffic Division - refused to shift the powerful 4x4.
He insisted that he "had a drink" the night before, and therefore could not be sure he was not over the legal alcohol limit and could commit an offence if he moved the car.
At the conversation became more heated he continued to quiz Insp Vickers about his motives for asking him to move his car.
PC Lund was then informed that he was being arrested for "obstructing police" and was led away in handcuffs.
He was taken to a police station in Morecambe where he was put in a cell and detained for a total of 10 hours before being released on bail.
Mr Lund, who lives with his wife and three step-children, spent months worrying he could be wrongly charged with obstructing police.
But the policeman engaged the services of top Liverpool solicitor Rex Makin who started an action against Lancashire Constabulary for unlawful arrest; false imprisonment and using unreasonable force.
And in an out-of-court settlement PC Lund has been awarded #5,000 by Lancashire Constabulary .
Mr Makin said his client had been humiliated by the police officers who visited his home and suffered severe anxiety and distress following his arrest.
Mr Makin said: "It's a real shocker of a case that demonstrates precisely how police should not conduct themselves
"What is even more outrageous is the way in which they protracted the action and incurred costs, which aggravated the situation."
In the video footage shot by Mr Lund he is shown saying: "I can't move it. I had a drink last night."
In an exchange with Inspector Vickers, that becomes heated the PC is accused of "causing an unnecessary obstruction".
Lancashire constabulary have, thus far, not produced a comment on the case.
Mounted branch mark 100 years of service
(Fri 18/05)
Bamber Bridge paedophile sentenced to jail
(Thu 17/05)
Post a comment