A Wiltshire Police chief inspector has been given a final written warning following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation for not disclosing to our investigators that he witnessed a 999 call.
Chief Inspector Keith Ewart was the force’s critical incident manager at the time of a fatal road traffic collision in Royal Wootton Bassett in February 2016 in which a 22-year-old pedestrian, Aidan Ridley, sadly lost his life. During an emergency call from a member of the public at the scene a police call handler advised that the casualty on the ground should not be moved, despite hearing that Mr Ridley’s airway was compromised. Later medical evidence indicated that police handling of the call could not have prevented Mr Ridley’s tragic death.
During the then IPCC investigation which followed into Wiltshire Police’s response to the collision, Chief Inspector Ewart acted as the call handler’s police friend and accompanied her at the interview. He did not inform investigators that he had monitored at least part of the 999 call, which he later disclosed in a witness statement for the inquest.
At a gross misconduct hearing this week organised by the force, allegations were heard that Chief Inspector Ewart had breached standards of professional behaviour, in that he acted without honesty and integrity by failing to fully disclose the extent of his involvement in the incident despite several opportunities to do so. It was also alleged the chief inspector had breached standards of duties and responsibilities by not utilising his operational and supervisory position to intervene in the emergency call and provide first aid advice. Police officers are taught about airway management in their annual first aid refresher training. The disciplinary panel decided that this allegation was not proven.
The IOPC’s investigation into the chief inspector’s conduct began in January 2018 and concluded in October that year. At the end of the investigation, the IOPC directed Wiltshire Police to hold a gross misconduct hearing in front on an independent, legally-qualified chair.
IOPC regional director, Catrin Evans, said: “Sadly nothing in the police response would have altered the tragic outcome from the collision, and I offer my condolences to Mr Ridley’s family.
“Police guidance puts the onus squarely on an officer to positively disclose any relevant information when acting in the role of a police friend during an investigation. Chief Inspector Ewart did not tell our investigators about the extent of his involvement in the incident, and neither did he inform senior Wiltshire officers.
“A police disciplinary panel has now reached the conclusion that the chief inspector’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct in that, while not dishonest, he had lacked integrity and failed in his duties and responsibilities. The panel imposed the sanction of a final written warning.”
The earlier IPCC investigation into Wiltshire Police actions following the collision had concluded in December 2016. The IPCC found no case to answer for any officer or staff member but recommended the force improve their training for call handlers to recognise when to refer to an appropriately trained person if they are asked for medical advice.
