A LANCASHIRE police officer involved in a collision in Brierfield when on duty is set to face trial next month accused of dangerous driving.

PC Ryan van Delft, 40, a former community beat manager in Barnoldswick, is currently on ‘alternative duties’ as a dog handler with the force’s dog unit and is based in Eastern Division.

He is also suspended from response driving pending the outcome of the trial.

Van Delft, of Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, was driving a police dog van along Burnley Road, Brierfield, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 25, 2009, when it collided with a Ford Focus being driven by Abbas Arif, 28.

Mr Arif and his 46-year-old cousin suffered whiplash injuries in the high speed smash outside Dixy Chicken takeaway at 4.30am.

They were returning home from morning prayers at Brierfield Mosque.

Mr Arif, of Victoria Avenue, was treated for cuts, bruises and a damaged right shoulder at Burnley General Hospital.

A police spokesman said: “We can confirm that a Lancashire police officer PC Ryan Van Delft is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on charges of dangerous driving following a road traffic collision on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, in Burnley Road in Brierfield.

The collision involved a Ford Focus and a police vehicle.

The occupants of the Focus suffered whiplash injuries whilst the police officer was uninjured.

“The officer is currently on alternative duties and is suspended from response driving.”

PC Van Delft is currently training to be a dog legislation officer.

During his role in the Pennine neighbourhood teams, he oversaw drugs raids in Bank Hall, vice crackdowns in Duke Bar, Burnley and launched an alcohol control zone in Barnoldswick to curb booze-fuelled yobs.

The trial is set for October 6 at Liverpool Crown Court.