Head of Derbyshire Special Branch (but perhaps not for much longer), Gary Tomlinson, was convicted of using insulting, abusive and threatening language against taxi driver Mohammed Anwar. Anwar recorded Tomlinson saying "I am a police officer and I am going to do you. You are a lying bastard" after refusing to pay a full taxi fare.
According to Anwar, Tomlinson also called him a "lying Paki bastard" but this was before he was able to start the recorder on his mobile phone.
Tomlinson was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs.
Detective Chief Constable Alan Goodwin said "The Derbyshire Constabulary will not tolerate criminal conduct of any kind by any of its employees." He continued, "DI Tomlinson's position with the force will now be reviewed as a result of his conviction." Don't hold your breath, though. The police are notorious for closing ranks to help their colleagues keep jobs and careers.
In this case the victim got it together enough to make a recording of a copper abusing his authority but there are thousands of incidents like this that get swept under the carpet. The Old Bill's word counts for more than that of ordinary people even though they have been caught lying through their teeth on many an occasion.
Tomlinson was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs.
Detective Chief Constable Alan Goodwin said "The Derbyshire Constabulary will not tolerate criminal conduct of any kind by any of its employees." He continued, "DI Tomlinson's position with the force will now be reviewed as a result of his conviction." Don't hold your breath, though. The police are notorious for closing ranks to help their colleagues keep jobs and careers.
In this case the victim got it together enough to make a recording of a copper abusing his authority but there are thousands of incidents like this that get swept under the carpet. The Old Bill's word counts for more than that of ordinary people even though they have been caught lying through their teeth on many an occasion.