A Kent police officer has been convicted of careless driving while on duty.
Police Constable Mark Sloane was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on 9 December following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The court heard that PC Sloane was responding to reports of a burglary and driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone in Courtenay Road, Maidstone, just after 9 pm on 1 March 2018.
There was snow and sheet ice on the road and his vehicle collided with one car as it was being parked.
Its driver sustained a broken collarbone, and an officer who was a passenger in the police car broke a finger.
PC Sloane’s vehicle also subsequently collided with several parked cars.
He was fined £450 with costs of £130 and had eight penalty points put on his driving licence.
The IOPC confirmed that its investigation ended in October 2018 and in February 2019 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), authorised the prosecution.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said:
“We have also passed to Kent Police our final report and findings which concluded PC Sloane had a case to answer for misconduct.
“Kent Police has agreed, and misconduct proceedings will be scheduled in due course”.
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I thought that proceeding had to commence within 6 months of the alleged offence. Not over a year as in this case.
Trying to do your job to the best of your ability is not misconduct. If it decided that it is, then everyone should hand in their driving permit. You don’t get any less pay and there’s no chance of being prosecuted for any driving offence.