Fatal accident special constable resigns (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Special constable Collette Carpenter who was involved in fatal crash with biker David Bartholomew resigns
8:00am Saturday 16th February 2013 in News By Paula Roberts
LET OFF: Collette Carpenter
A SPECIAL constable who was involved in a fatal road crash while talking on her mobile phone has resigned.
Collette Carpenter was involved in a conversation with her partner when her Peugeot 206 collided with motorcyclist David Bartholomew.
An inquest this week heard how Miss Carpenter, formerly of Colehill, denied using her phone during the journey but later admitted she had used it throughout the entire journey on loudspeaker, positioned on her lap.
Details of the case were submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided not to prosecute after the collision on the A31 Ferndown bypass on March 20 last year.
They said while evidence showed she was using her phone while driving, there was no evidence she was holding it at the time of the collision. The CPS added there was “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Yesterday it was revealed that Miss Carpenter, who had continued to work as a volunteer special constable for Dorset Police, had in fact resigned.
In a statement, the force said: “Dorset Police can confirm that the special constable involved in this incident has officially resigned, “We have nothing further to say on the matter.”
The decision not to prosecute Miss Carpenter angered Mr Bartholomew’s children James and Charlotte and his partner Lindsey Witcombe.
Speaking about the resignation, Lindsey said: “We are reassured to hear that Collette Carpenter has resigned from being a special constable with immediate effect.
“We understand her records will be marked and if there is any attempt in the future to gain entry into the force her dishonesty will be flagged up because she has fallen well short of the standards required to maintain public confidence.”
Politician’s letter to attorney general
A DORSET MP says he will be writing to the attorney general about the Carpenter case.
Chris Chope, MP for Christchurch, is to take up the issue of why she was not prosecuted for using a hand-held device while driving.
The legislation states that the use of a hand-held phone or similar hand-held device while driving is prohibited.
It describes a hand-held device as something that “is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function”.
Mr Chope, who is a former roads minister, said: “I would be happy to write to the attorney general about it and will link it to the Daily Echo articles.”
He would ask for an explanation as to “how someone caught committing an offence has not faced prosecution”.
- Special Constable on phone when she collided with biker David Bartholomew
- She should have faced charges: top traffic cop's verdict on fatal accident Special
- Fatal accident special constable: why WASN'T she prosecuted?
Comments(29)
Lord Spring
says...
8:38am Sat 16 Feb 13
As an TV actor in the news, has now been charged with an offence which was not previously going to court.
Babybop
says...
9:15am Sat 16 Feb 13
Turtlebay
says...
9:59am Sat 16 Feb 13
Turtlebay
says...
10:01am Sat 16 Feb 13
proverbol
says...
10:33am Sat 16 Feb 13
Avengerboy
says...
10:39am Sat 16 Feb 13
Cherry19
says...
11:28am Sat 16 Feb 13
I hope Mr Chope gets a positive response in this matter, we have to have clear guidelines from the CPS, the statements given by her clearly record her change of story about the phone use.
Our thoughts are with David, who lost his life, and to his family who are having to not only come to terms with their loss, but also deal with all the aftermath the inquest, but I hope they find strength in knowing that the public support them.
muscliffman
says...
11:35am Sat 16 Feb 13
The Special Police Constable, as I read it, was not using a hands free mobile phone device fitted in the car she was driving. She was using a normal totally detached mobile phone balanced somehow upon her lap - (allegedly) in a 'hands free' speaker mode.
The law is quite precise on this, the former with the car accessory system fitted is quite legal, the latter (even if true) is not.
Two more issues intrigue me here. Firstly why did she ever have the opportunity to resign, surely her confession of lying at a serious and formal legal investigation should have been regarded as an act sufficient to cause summary dismissal from an outfit like the Police - upon grounds of serious lost repute.
Secondly, we have a new PCC who has been appearing in the media with something to say about anything on a regular basis - using his own new publicly funded media assistants no doubt! On this one Police related topic, when the public might like to have heard a view from him, and he could indeed have earnt some much needed crdibilty, so far we hear....absolutely nothing.
Holes Bay Curve
says...
12:00pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Turtlebay wrote:>>>>>https://www.gov
She was not prosecuted because she was using it's hands free mode, which is permissible.
.uk/using-mobile-pho
nes-when-driving-the
-law
'When you can use a phone in your vehicle
If you’re the driver, you can only use your phone in a vehicle if you:
need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
are safely parked
Using hands-free devices when driving
You can use hands-free phones, sat navs and 2-way radios when you’re driving or riding. But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised.'
It is disgraceful that someone who is meant to uphold the law , lets down the whole Police force by her actions, be it, driving without due care, OR disregarding the law.
yasinac
says...
12:12pm Sat 16 Feb 13
My sincere condolences to his heartbroken family and to his children especially that have been robbed at having their dad by their side at milestone moments in their lives.
Bob49
says...
12:36pm Sat 16 Feb 13
I'm sure many would have thought that she had left the police long ago, if only though having 'lied' in her original statement.
However there still remains the question of what caused this fatal crash. Someone must have been driving incorrectly or it would not have happened.
As said above, the mobile phone is a distraction in this debate.Why was her car in the road when clearly oncoming traffic (the motorbike) had priority ?).
UZZY
says...
1:18pm Sat 16 Feb 13
arti273
says...
1:53pm Sat 16 Feb 13
He merely states (presumable when pressed by the Echo for a comment) he "would be happy to write to the attorney general about it” And "He would ask for an explanation as to “how someone caught committing an offence has not faced prosecution”.
I'd be happy to have taxpayers pay £10,377 for the repairs to my roof, £2,600 for my new bathroom and £881.25 to repair my sofa, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen.
Perhaps he could make it an open letter and the Echo could publish it so we can all see it?
Controversial But True
says...
3:17pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Derf
says...
4:49pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Could it not be she resigned immediately after the incident. The Echo and the police haven't said she resigned after the inquest, the police haters on here have merely jumped to that conclusion.
As for the MP, just empty noises to jump on a bandwagon of public opinion ( as always )
awsokend
says...
5:12pm Sat 16 Feb 13
others get away with it by the looks of things.
its not fair on I.
Chris the plumber
says...
5:18pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
5:38pm Sat 16 Feb 13
nosuchluck54
says...
5:42pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Chris the plumber wrote:Speechless!!!
there were two invovled in this incident a motor cycle over taking on hatching approaching a junction, a very dangerious thing to do and a car driver not paying sufficient attention !! both in my view and the view of the inquest to blame so Mr Chope is vote hunting by pandering to the majority who blame the car driver and the majority were not at the inqueset to hear exactly what happened.
muscliffman
says...
7:57pm Sat 16 Feb 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiHow strange. But pardon us 'lower class' pl*bs if we have offended with this word. But I think you are totally wrong.
l wrote:
She didn't resign, she quit. There's a difference. You can't resign from a voluntary position, because it's not a job..... Always cracks me up when the lower classes use the word 'resign'. Like they're sat on a board of directors..........
Many positions in life which do not involve remuneration, or would be classed as a 'job', require a resignation to bring them to a close.
Some of them, like a Special Police Constable, also involve legal responsibilities - including a requirement, when appropriate, for resignation.
Such positions also include unpaid Trustees, unpaid Company Directors (EG Of an incorporated Charity), many voluntary organisation committee members (of anything), unpaid governing Board members (Schools, Hospitals)..........
......etc.
The Seasider
says...
8:51pm Sat 16 Feb 13
It seems obvious that she should be prosecuted for death by dangerous driving and using a phone whilst driving.
The CPS has sufficient evidence, due to her admissions, and it is clearly in the public interest to pursue the matter (it is not a triviality), so prosecutions must result. The only reason not to prosecute is for the CPS to collude with the police because the driver was a police employee. This is NOT a factor which should be considered in prosecuting her.
Let a JURY decide her innocence or guilt. It is not for the CPS to be 'judge, jury and executioner' and presume they know best. Let all the facts come out for a court to decide guilt.
Next, Mr Chope should consider what the Dorset PCC is doing regarding this case. Also, consider new offences on the statute books, particularly; causing death by reckless/ careless/ negligent driving and not just death by dangerous driving. The law is far to narrow is this area, and too many families lose loved ones on the roads but never get any justice out of our 'justice system'. This tragic injustice really needs to end.
retry69
says...
9:20pm Sat 16 Feb 13
LetcommonsenseprevaiThats a comment to remember for the future my lower class friends.
l wrote:
She didn't resign, she quit. There's a difference. You can't resign from a voluntary position, because it's not a job..... Always cracks me up when the lower classes use the word 'resign'. Like they're sat on a board of directors..........
Yankee1
says...
10:19pm Sat 16 Feb 13
Lord Spring wrote:She can also be sued in civil court.
Just because she has not been prosecuted does not mean she can not be still prosecuted.
As an TV actor in the news, has now been charged with an offence which was not previously going to court.
The bar is much lower for a successful case there.
Browser123
says...
11:09pm Sat 16 Feb 13
The Seasider wrote:Seems dangerous driving did not cause the accident as witnesses state car exited junction correctly but that biker overtook in a bikers black spot..
An innocent man lost his life due to an accident caused by a driver who was not paying due care and attention at the time.
It seems obvious that she should be prosecuted for death by dangerous driving and using a phone whilst driving.
The CPS has sufficient evidence, due to her admissions, and it is clearly in the public interest to pursue the matter (it is not a triviality), so prosecutions must result. The only reason not to prosecute is for the CPS to collude with the police because the driver was a police employee. This is NOT a factor which should be considered in prosecuting her.
Let a JURY decide her innocence or guilt. It is not for the CPS to be 'judge, jury and executioner' and presume they know best. Let all the facts come out for a court to decide guilt.
Next, Mr Chope should consider what the Dorset PCC is doing regarding this case. Also, consider new offences on the statute books, particularly; causing death by reckless/ careless/ negligent driving and not just death by dangerous driving. The law is far to narrow is this area, and too many families lose loved ones on the roads but never get any justice out of our 'justice system'. This tragic injustice really needs to end.
Agree driver should be charged with using mobile phone whilst driving.And quite rightly resigned as police must not break any law.
Let a jury decide if the driver or the biker was at fault.
scrumpyjack
says...
12:16pm Sun 17 Feb 13
nosuchluck54 wrote:If only.
Chris the plumber wrote:Speechless!!!
there were two invovled in this incident a motor cycle over taking on hatching approaching a junction, a very dangerious thing to do and a car driver not paying sufficient attention !! both in my view and the view of the inquest to blame so Mr Chope is vote hunting by pandering to the majority who blame the car driver and the majority were not at the inqueset to hear exactly what happened.
scrumpyjack
says...
12:20pm Sun 17 Feb 13
The Seasider wrote:I love hearing from special people who know all the facts without any actual involvment.
An innocent man lost his life due to an accident caused by a driver who was not paying due care and attention at the time.
It seems obvious that she should be prosecuted for death by dangerous driving and using a phone whilst driving.
The CPS has sufficient evidence, due to her admissions, and it is clearly in the public interest to pursue the matter (it is not a triviality), so prosecutions must result. The only reason not to prosecute is for the CPS to collude with the police because the driver was a police employee. This is NOT a factor which should be considered in prosecuting her.
Let a JURY decide her innocence or guilt. It is not for the CPS to be 'judge, jury and executioner' and presume they know best. Let all the facts come out for a court to decide guilt.
Next, Mr Chope should consider what the Dorset PCC is doing regarding this case. Also, consider new offences on the statute books, particularly; causing death by reckless/ careless/ negligent driving and not just death by dangerous driving. The law is far to narrow is this area, and too many families lose loved ones on the roads but never get any justice out of our 'justice system'. This tragic injustice really needs to end.
Sigh. They are just so clever and brilliant.
Sickofidiotsonhere
says...
1:13pm Sun 17 Feb 13
whilst driving
Omni314
says...
10:10am Mon 18 Feb 13
djd says...
8:18am Sat 16 Feb 13