Plebs Beware: WPC Kelly Jones sues 999 caller for not warning her about a kerb
PC Kelly Jones, 33, might be hero. Steve Jones (no relation) sent out the distress signal (he called 999) when the alarm went off at his Nuns’ Bridges Service Station in Thetford, Norfolk. It was midnight when Jones arrived. In the course of the search for villains she tripped and fell on a 6 inch kerb. She hurt her wrist and leg. So. She’s suing Mr Jones. The Mail says she could get £50,000.
Seems fair.
But her boss, Phil Gormley, Chief Constable of Norfolk Police, says:
“This type of claim does not represent the approach and attitude of the overwhelming majority of our staff who understand and accept the risks inherent in policing and which they willingly confront to keep the public they serve safe. It is a disappointment that this is potentially undermined by a private compensation claim.”
Jones’s case is being funded by the Police Federation.
Pattinson Brewer are the claims lawyers warming their hands.
Steve Jones, 50, is agog:
“At first I was anxious and worried. I really could not see how this sort of thing could have happened. You call the police and expect them to be on your side. I’m sure they are normally but not in this case.”
Recalling the trip and fall he says:
“I thought nothing of it – other than she must have been a bit embarrassed – and I helped her up. Then we carried on with the search.”
He is now accused of “failing to ensure [WPC Jones] was reasonably safe in using the premises for which she was permitted/invited by you to be there’ and of a ‘failure to carry out any and/or adequate risk assessment’.”
Invited. Lovely. You do not call the police. You invite them.
Mr Jones is accused of failing to light the area. He says.
“The interesting thing is that she did not have a torch with her. Flashlights are standard issue to police officers and it would have helped her if she had one. I think there was enough light for her to see around – but it might not have happened if she had a torch. I am astounded that she is blaming me.”
Adding:
“If you hear a burglar downstairs, do you have to nail down your stair carpet, close the windows and put the lights on before you dial 999? This is the health and safety culture at work, the fallacy that someone is to blame for any and every accident and that compensation is free. People do trip over their own feet from time to time and I think this is what happened to her. I fell over on the squash court the other day. It was nobody’s fault and I didn’t try and blame anyone.”
You might have laughed, had you seen it. But then you’ve have been nicked for bullying. The remedy is, of course, simple. Stick a “PLEBS BEWARE” signs on all your goods. The police won’t miss that…
Posted: 1st, April 2013 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
