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Wiltshire Police 'sorry' for wrongful arrest | Wiltshire Police 'sorry' for wrongful arrest |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A woman has received £9,000 and an apology from Wiltshire Police after being unlawfully arrested and held in a cell for hours. | A woman has received £9,000 and an apology from Wiltshire Police after being unlawfully arrested and held in a cell for hours. |
Pamela Boxford-White, 72, was arrested for breach of the peace on 4 June 2012 and taken to Swindon police station, her solicitor Iain Gould said. | Pamela Boxford-White, 72, was arrested for breach of the peace on 4 June 2012 and taken to Swindon police station, her solicitor Iain Gould said. |
She was left in a cell for seven hours and denied access to a solicitor. | She was left in a cell for seven hours and denied access to a solicitor. |
The letter from the head of professional standards admits the arrest "should not have occurred". | The letter from the head of professional standards admits the arrest "should not have occurred". |
Mr and Mrs Boxford-White had been involved in a long-running neighbour dispute. | Mr and Mrs Boxford-White had been involved in a long-running neighbour dispute. |
On 4 June 2012, two police officers came to arrest Mr Boxford-White for allegedly assaulting a neighbour near their home in Abbey Meads. | On 4 June 2012, two police officers came to arrest Mr Boxford-White for allegedly assaulting a neighbour near their home in Abbey Meads. |
His wife became distressed and was also arrested. | His wife became distressed and was also arrested. |
They were taken to a police Station while Mr Boxford-White was questioned about the assault complaint. | |
Mrs Boxford-White was kept in a cell for seven hours while her husband was interviewed. | Mrs Boxford-White was kept in a cell for seven hours while her husband was interviewed. |
The assault charges were later dropped but Mrs Boxford-White complained to Wiltshire Police over their "high-handed and arbitrary treatment". | The assault charges were later dropped but Mrs Boxford-White complained to Wiltshire Police over their "high-handed and arbitrary treatment". |
Her complaint was not upheld and she was told the officers had no case to answer and no further action would be taken. | Her complaint was not upheld and she was told the officers had no case to answer and no further action would be taken. |
Mrs Boxford-White then pursued a civil action, which resulted in the apology. | Mrs Boxford-White then pursued a civil action, which resulted in the apology. |
It states: "It is accepted that your behaviour did not, and could never, constitute a breach of the peace and therefore your arrest was unlawful and should not have occurred." | It states: "It is accepted that your behaviour did not, and could never, constitute a breach of the peace and therefore your arrest was unlawful and should not have occurred." |
Iain Gould, the solicitor who represented Mrs Boxford-White, said there was a "complete failure of applying common sense" to the situation. | |
"Mrs Boxford-White was very upset about the arrest of her husband. She did express indications of upset and shock," he added. | |
"These expressions were expressions of frustration, they certainly weren't expressions of self-harm. | |
"This really should have been obvious to the police officers concerned and they should have acted accordingly. | |
"Instead what they do is arrest her for breach of the peace, which is just outrageous." |
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