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'Inconsiderate' police officer parked in Darwen disabled bay
5:20pm Friday 4th July 2008
By Catherine Pye »
POLICE have slammed the ‘inconsiderate and unsatisfactory’ behaviour of an officer who parked his patrol car in a disabled bay.
Bosses said his conduct ‘fell below the high standards we set’ after the incident in Darwen town centre.
They have have pledged to ‘deal with the matter’. It is likely the officer, who has not been named, will face informal words of censure rather than formal disciplinary action.
The marked Vauxhall Astra police car was spotted parked half in a disabled bay and half on the pavement opposite the Co-operative shop in Railway Road on Wednesday.
The officer spent about 20 minutes in the shop, according to eye witnesses.
Michael Firth, 61, of Cross Barn, Darwen, was shopping in the town and took photographs.
Mr Firth, who had a leg amputated, said: “It’s a shabby do.
“It’s inconsiderate, thoughtless and ignorant.
“As I was taking the photos there was a couple of old dears in wheelchairs and with walking frames struggling to get passed where it was parked.
“I wouldn’t mind if there was a real emergency going on, but there wasn’t.
“Nobody else would be allowed to park in that way, so it is not fair the police think they can.”
Helen Smith from Mobilise, an organisation representing disabled drivers, said: “Of course the police can park in disabled bays if it is absolutely essential, but if they are just being lazy then it is disgraceful behaviour.
“We advise people to stay out of diasbled bays completely if they are not a blue badge holder.”
Inspector Andrea Bradbury of Darwen police, said: "Sadly the action of individual members of staff can, on occasion, undermine the significant hard work and achievements of other colleagues.
“Therefore his inconsiderate and unsatisfactory behaviour will not be treated lightly. "
A police spokesperson added: “The officer was dealing with an inquiry.
“However Lancashire Constabulary cannot condone these actions as he was not responding to an emergency incident, which may on certain occasions justify breaking parking regulations.
“His conduct falls below the very high standards we set and expect from all our staff and therefore the matter will be dealt with.”
Your Say YourTelegraph
petew27, Blackburn says...
7:22pm Fri 4 Jul 08
The Mekon, Great Harwood says...
7:46pm Fri 4 Jul 08
pip pip!, Hyndburn says...
8:32pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Is this news? Well said, Mekon! Spot on. Common sense from Great Harwood, as usual!
If Mr Frith wants to get his name in the paper, he would be better complaining about the civilian speed camera operative who lied to the courts, causing innocent motorists (disabled included, no doubt) to lose their jobs when they were banned from driving.
Bat E Bird, Darwen says...
9:42pm Fri 4 Jul 08
It's hardly heaving in Darwen centre at the busiest of times and it was a Wednesday for goodness sake - not even a market day.
1. "As I was taking the photos there was a couple of old dears in wheelchairs and with walking frames struggling to get passed where it was parked"
Sorry to be suspicious but are you positive about that? It's a bit co-incidental that they come along just as the copper parked there. Or are you just trying to prove some sort of point?
2. "I wouldn’t mind if there was a real emergency going on, but there wasn’t."
How did you know that at the time and how do you know for definite now? It may have been low-key but I'm sure the police don't consult you every time they're called out.
OK, the copper may have just been buying a butty and a few cans for later, I've no idea, but I like to give any person the benefit of the doubt until I know the facts.
Blondie, The Back of Beyond says...
8:12am Sat 5 Jul 08
I wish people like him would take their complaints to the appropriate people rather than running to the press.
The police have a hard enough time without sad folk like Mr Firth running them down at every opportunity.
bandicoot, Blackburn says...
9:53am Sat 5 Jul 08
Has this guy nothing better to do? When will people realise that police ARE human too and sometimes make mistakes? Maybe he shouldn't have parked there but there is an unusually large amount of disabled bays on Church Street. Was Darwen expecting a rush on disabled people that morning? I think not.
Ahh yes maybe there is a direct correlation between the number of bays and the number of inbred Darweners with way too much time on their hands...
Market Trader, Darwen says...
6:03pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Dave Harwood, Harwood says...
6:35am Mon 7 Jul 08
Editor - can you cover a story about a police car in the wrong place.
Pye (muses) - I really do need to work in a bigger town.
Ex-Darrener, Lancashire says...
9:02am Mon 7 Jul 08
allan1957, Darwen says...
5:10pm Mon 7 Jul 08
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CAUGHT: The police officer parks his vehicle in a disabled bay in Darwen. The picture was taken by a disabled shopper
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Offended, Omnipresent says...
5:38pm Fri 4 Jul 08
How old is the photograph? I reckon it was Navy Boy when he was still in uniform!