Police Sergeant Mark Andrews acquitted on appeal

On 7th September, Police Sergeant Mark Andrews was convicted at Oxford Magistrates' Court - (a Deputy Distrtict Judge (Magistrates' Courts) heard the case) - of  assault occasioning actual bodily harm - see the earlier post.  He has now been acquitted on appeal to the Crown Court - The Guardian 18th November 2010. It appears that the Police disciplinary hearing will still take place - Wiltshire Police - though the Police spokesman said that this is "whilst respecting the decision of the court today in upholding the appeal."

Interestingly, the judge presiding at the appeal in the Crown Court - (Mr Justice Bean) - is reported as having said to Andrews that "he could have done things better."  The remarks of judges ought to be published in full so that the public can see the reasoning.  It is not clear from any media reports on what basis the judge said what might be regarded as a pre-emption of any disciplinary hearing.  The judge will have sat with two magistrates as is usual in appeals to the Crown Court from the Magistrates' Courts.

At the time of the conviction, the BBC published some video of the event - see BBC.

Addendum 10th November 2012:

The High Court ordered the reinstatement of Mark Andrews - Daily Mail 10th November 2012

Police Sergeant jailed for 6 months

Police Sergeant Mark Andrews of the Wiltshire Police has been jailed for 6 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Pamela Somerville.  See The Guardian 7th September.  It appears that an appeal is likely.

Following the conviction of Andrews, a statement was issued by Wiltshire Police which may be read here. It is good to know that the Wiltshire Police "respect the decision of the court"!

Law and Lawyers looked at the exacting professional standards expected of the Police here.  Further blogging on this story may be read at David Allen Green's blog.

The Wiltshire Police sutody suites were inspected by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in 2009 and their report is here.   Hopefully, they will continue to check on progress regarding implementation of the considerable number of recommendations which they made.  Also, I wonder whether other Forces will read the report and check to see how they measure up against the same recommendations?

Addendum:  Police Sergeant Andrews has been granted bail pending appeal against both conviction and sentence - see Guardian 13th September.