Police officer sacked for abuse of motorcycle accident footage
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Start Your Claim NowA Staffordshire police offer has been sacked and handed a prison sentence after he blatantly misused motorcycle accident footage in his possession.
Now-former PC Andrew Parry had recorded motorcycle accident footage on his bodycam when he attended a tragically fatal collision in April 2017. He then transferred the footage from his bodycam to his mobile phone and showed colleagues the footage.
He was subsequently reported to his superiors and was suspended pending an investigation. Last month, the hearings into the incident concluded, and he has been punished accordingly.
PC Andrew Parry has been handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was instantly dismissed. The hearings into the investigation took place last month.
Parry had attended an incident near Leek last year where a motorcyclist tragically lost his life and was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcycle accident footage in question was then recorded on his bodycam and transferred without any requirement or authority.
As a result, grieving friends and family who had already had to endure a tragic loss were also subject to news of a horrendous data protection breach.
The officer was found guilty of misconduct in a public office.
Deputy Chief Constable Nick Baker said that the first priory was to speak to the family and provide any support required. He labelled the action so PC Parry as ‘disrespectful’ and noted that officers are regularly reminded about their responsibilities to not misuse computers and break the law.
This was a blatant and disrespectful misuse of motorcycle accident footage that didn’t even need taking in the first place.
We’re astounded that this has happened at a time when the family of the victim need the support of the police more than ever. Although we hope this was an isolated incident, it doesn’t paint a good picture of the police force at all.
We all know bikers are at far greater risk of being fatally injured in a road accident. It’s no laughing matter, and motorcycle accident footage should never be abused in such a way.
