Page 16 - WMPF Federation June-July 2018-flip_Neat

West Midlands officer

seeks closure from IOPC

after years of pain and

uncertainty

aughan Lowe bravely took to the
stage at the annual Police Federation
Vconference in Birmingham to describe
the events that have dominated his life since
a tragic incident in 2012.
As a traffic officer in the Force, he was
responding to reports of a stolen vehicle
when he collided with and killed a pedestrian
who stepped in front of his car. He was
charged with dangerous driving and
acquitted after a 10-day trial at court in
Warwick.
Yet, just 20 minutes after being found
not guilty, the IPCC (now the IOPC)
announced he would be facing a gross
misconduct hearing.
The painfully lengthy processes used
during the IPCC’s investigation had a
profound effect on Vaughan, his career and
his family.
Even though he was, once again, cleared
of misconduct, the uncertainty surrounding
the events left him deeply affected and an
ensuing report into his case is yet to bring
any closure for him or his family.
With the help of the Police Federation, he
is now pursuing a complaint against the
IOPC to ‘make sure this does not happen to
another officer’.
“To listen to the verdict, it was the worst Vaughan Lowe, Force traffic officer.
time. For five seconds, your life is in the
balance and you are either guilty or not the IOPC ourselves so this does not happen Vaughan.
guilty. It’s something I wouldn’t wish on to another colleague.” Accompanying him on stage was Tim
anybody, especially a police officer that’s Vaughan continued by claiming that the Rogers, the Federation’s lead on pursuits
done nothing wrong,” said Vaughan. IPCC had not taken any evidence from Crown and the West Midlands Police Federation’s
“Then the IPCC stood on the steps of the Court to the misconduct hearing. He found deputy secretary. He is at the forefront of
court and said I would face a gross it astonishing that after two weeks of attempts to change current legislation to
misconduct hearing. To go through that statements and expert witnesses at Crown help police pursuits drivers, through a bill
(another 18 months) and be found not guilty, Court, the IOPC did not produce any of that in Parliament.
was something I would also not wish on evidence at a later date and that they He added: “Vaughan has suffered with
anybody. ignored all of that evidence. an inexperienced investigator. It was
“If you are investigating the police, you
West Midlands Police to see how I had been have to be as good as the police,” said appalling. There are still a lot of
“There was a review by the IOPC and the
cover. We have to pursue a complaint against “ “
unanswered questions.”
dealt with. That review was concluded but to
If you are investigating the police, you
me, it was (just) a paperwork exercise. They
said they got it wrong - but after six years -
have to be as good as the police.
that’s no answer for myself or my family.

“The review that was conducted didn’t
cover anything we were told it was going to
16 federation June/July 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com