[I]Man had driven off without wearing a seat belt and was followed for several miles along country roads[/I]
[quote]Police have made a "substantial" out-of-court settlement after stopping a man's car and smashing its windows, lawyers said.
Retired businessman Robert Whatley, 73, of Usk, Monmouthshire, South Wales, took legal action over a 17-minute pursuit for not wearing a seat belt.
The officers were later cleared in a disciplinary hearing and Gwent Police has made no admission of liability.
But it has been reported the payment made to Mr Whatley is "in excess of £20,000."
The grandfather, who claimed for post-traumatic stress disorder, has already received more than £8,000 from the force after claiming for damage to his Range Rover.
His solicitors said Gwent Police had also agreed to pay "all reasonable" costs for the legal action.
A key piece in Mr Whatley's lawyers submission was a copy of the police video of the 2009 incident, which was later uploaded to YouTube.
He had driven off without wearing a seat belt and was followed for several miles along country roads between Cwmbran and Usk.
Mr Whatley was later found guilty of not wearing a seat belt, failing to stop for a police officer and having tinted car windows that did not conform to legal requirements.
He also admitted having a registration plate which did not adhere to regulations and was fined a total of £235 and ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court.
But he was cleared of failing to stop after an accident.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) later supervised an investigation into the incident, but a disciplinary panel made up of officers from another force cleared the two Gwent officers, whose identity has not been revealed.
It found their actions were justified given the circumstances.
Regarding the out-of-court settlement, Gwent Deputy Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: "Gwent Police have not accepted any liability in this matter, however contesting the matter further would have incurred substantial legal costs if the case had gone to court.
"Therefore, whilst we maintain our position we do not admit liability, a decision was made to settle the matter out of court on financial grounds."[/quote]
[url=http://www.policeone.com/international/articles/5017703-Big-payout-for-UK-grandpa-in-cops-window-smash/]sauce[/url]
Ive seen a lot of police videos but nothing like that. They just went ape on his vehicle.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcetmeVTcyU[/media]
What reason did they have to smash it up anyway? Random act of violence?
The cop jumping on the hood really adds another level ridiculousness.
Was he speeding?
[QUOTE=Dogchow33;34553594]What reason did they have to smash it up anyway? Random act of violence?[/QUOTE]
He was driving on the wrong side of the road, just look at the video :v:
[I]Man had driven off without wearing a seat belt and was followed for several miles along country roads[/I]
[QUOTE=areolop;34553661][I]Man had driven off without wearing a seat belt and was followed for several miles along country roads[/I][/QUOTE]
My bad. Rate me bad reading.
The old man is milking them for money and (like a lot of people who claim) being melodramatic about his situation. I doubt he got post-traumatic stress disorder from having his windows smashed. Smashing his windows was unnecessary though and completely out of conduct, the officer sounds like one of those petty shits who has nothing better to do but book people for shitty reasons (causing a chase because some guy was not wearing a suit belt). I assume the officer just got frustrated at the end so decided to wreck his vehicle a bit. £28,000 is quite a lot of money to pay out to someone who couldn't wear his seat belt, having a incorrect registration plate, tinted car windows and failing to stop for a police officer though.
[QUOTE=Dogchow33;34553695]My bad. Rate me bad reading.[/QUOTE]
I forgot to add it to the OP, you reminded me.
[QUOTE=Dogchow33;34553594]What reason did they have to smash it up anyway? Random act of violence?[/QUOTE]
Smash it, grab the driver and/or keys so they can't start driving away again?
Police were just doing their jobs, they tried to stop him, he drove off, they pursued him, he didn't stop for 17 minutes, and when he did stop, they did it so that he couldnt start it up again.
they didn't need to fucking smash out his window and jump on the hood of the car
Cops shouldn't have done that, but I still think that stupid old fart deserved all that. He shouldn't deserve that much money either
Why didn't he stop? If he didn't realise he was being pursued or asked to pull over then he clearly isn't fit to drive. 17 minutes is a ridiculously long time.
He failed to stop for police and had conducted other offenses such as the overly tinted windows and license plate issues... They smashed the window given the chance they could not clearly see inside and that he could have a weapon, or simply lock the door and keep driving. He broke the law and was found guilty, he doesn't deserve any payout. It's like going "HUR DUR, YOU BROKE THE LAW AND WE'LL FINE YOU. But here you go, have £20k on us to cover the fines and make a profit".
The officer jumping on the car though seemed stupid and unexplained though.
Jumping all over the car was a bit unnecessary and pretty dangerous considering the car had stopped voluntarily. Breaking the window was probably justified considering how tinted the windows were. Like it or not their first priority is their safety.
He shouldn't have to pay for the broken window. But he shouldn't have gotten paid for "PTSD" that's bullshit.
He failed to stop, if he can't see police after 17 minutes, they should take his drivers license as well.
Why didnt the police car drive faster? 40 mph isnt exactly the speed of someone trying to escape. Dont they have some display on the top of the car so you can see that they want you to stop?
Jesus Christ. How ridiculous.
Tbh I feel the old man should have been stopped if his license plate was faulty, his windows were tinted, and he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. The fact that he didn't notice the cops kinda says a lot, too.
Though the officers were huge asshats about this and I can't say I'm surprised they're being forced to compensate the old man now.
[QUOTE]The grandfather, who claimed for post-traumatic stress disorder[/QUOTE]
Also that is bullshit. Unless he's consistently a nervous wreck normally I fail to see how you could get PTSD from this.
The old man should have a lethal injection
[QUOTE=sparkles :D;34556247]The old man should have a lethal injection[/QUOTE]
...and decrease the surplus population am I right?
[img]http://www.soundonsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Scrooge-after.jpeg[/img]
While the old man is a bit of a bastard the ferocity and violence they expel unto his car is like what they'd do if he was raping a toddler while gunning down babies or something.
[QUOTE=Dogchow33;34553594]What reason did they have to smash it up anyway? Random act of violence?[/QUOTE]
After a long chase, police often use tactics like this to stop them driving off again. If you drive off after being stopped, there is obviously going to be suspicion of a greater crime.
[editline]5th February 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Vasili;34553696]The old man is milking them for money and (like a lot of people who claim) being melodramatic about his situation. I doubt he got post-traumatic stress disorder from having his windows smashed. Smashing his windows was unnecessary though and completely out of conduct, the officer sounds like one of those petty shits who has nothing better to do but book people for shitty reasons (causing a chase because some guy was not wearing a suit belt). I assume the officer just got frustrated at the end so decided to wreck his vehicle a bit. £28,000 is quite a lot of money to pay out to someone who couldn't wear his seat belt, having a incorrect registration plate, tinted car windows and failing to stop for a police officer though.[/QUOTE]
The police never start a chase, they signal for a car to stop and If the car doesn't stop then they start a chase.
atleast he wasn't maced and tazed(and beaten)
:america:
Do we know the full story?
No.
Do you guys even train your cops over there? What the hell did I just watch?
(Referring to the guy jumping on the hood)
I am not sure jumping on the hood is ever really a great option in a traffic stop...
[QUOTE=Squad;34557769]Do you guys even train your cops over there? What the hell did I just watch?[/QUOTE]
Because your police are so fucking amazing.
Our police officers are incredibly highly trained. No offense but it's not hard for an average person to become a cop in your country.
[QUOTE=Cone;34556010]
Also that is bullshit. Unless he's consistently a nervous wreck normally I fail to see how you could get PTSD from this.[/QUOTE]
Not necessarily. A friend of mine was diagnosed with PTSD after being involved in a fight with 4 people (him and a friend vs 4). It's not impossible, just unlikely.
There's a good reason the government doesn't give them guns then.
cunts
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