Force fined £50,000 over arrest video contempt

Ivan Balhatchet apologised to Nadine Buzzard-Quashie for "appalling failings" in his police force

A police force that repeatedly failed to produce video footage of an arrest has been fined £50,000.

Northamptonshire's Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet was found to be personally liable and in contempt of court at the Court of Appeal on 11 November.

Judges ruled Northamptonshire Police had been "willfully disobedient" after failing to hand over video of the 2021 arrest of Nadine Buzzard-Quashie - during which she claimed she was "physically assaulted".

Speaking at a sanctions hearing on Thursday, Mr Balhatchet apologised to Ms Buzzard-Quashie and said: "The failings of my force has been appalling."

He added the matter would be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) "to make sure it's fully investigated".

Lord Justice Fraser said: "It is clear that at least one of the new pieces of video entirely vindicates Ms Buzzard-Quashi's position, regarding certain matters which occurred during her arrest."

He praised her persistence, saying: "Without her tenacity and resilience none of this would have seen the light of day."

Nadine Buzzard-Quashie says she was physically assaulted during an arrest by three officers

As first reported by The Guardian, Ms Buzzard-Quashie was taken into custody in September 2021 and later released.

She said she was "physically thrown to the ground and had her face pushed into stinging nettles" by three Northamptonshire officers on her arrest.

Ms Buzzard-Quashie filed a complaint and police were ordered to hand over all video footage.

The force ignored that order and a subsequent one made by a county court judge.

Lord Justice Fraser said: "There were five video clips never provided to the appellant, even though they clearly existed.

"The failure to comply is a serious matter."

He said a prison sentence for Mr Balhatchet would be inappropriate, as "the vast majority of what has occurred has been done by those who act on his behalf, not by him in his personal capacity".

Lord Justice Fraser acknowledged that the fine would be taken from the budget of Northamptonshire Police, which would have an impact on front-line policing.

Speaking at the Court of Appeal on Thursday, Mr Balhatchet said: "I would like to say a heartfelt apology to Ms Buzzard-Quashie, the county court and Court of Appeal.

"The failings of my force in these cases has been appalling and I am speechless in terms of the numerous errors, and the hurt and impact.

"I'll never be able to put myself in Ms Buzzard-Quashie's place. I know it would have had an immense impact and continues to do so.

"It's my responsibility to make sure this never happens again and I'll do everything I can to ensure that it doesn't happen."

Three Court of Appeal judges ruled that what had occurred in the case concerning the video footage was "a matter of significant concern"

The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel has called an extraordinary meeting with its commissioner Danielle Stone.

Stone has requested an independent review into the case which would be completed by the end of 2025.

"I have listened to the court proceedings today, which highlighted clear organisational failings.

"I am deeply dismayed and can only apologise to Miss Buzzard-Quashie.

"Transparency and accountability are fundamental to police legitimacy. We must understand what went so badly wrong in this case," she said.

Ms Buzzard-Quashie released a statement after the contempt verdict saying she was "elated that justice has finally prevailed".

"This case is about accountability, truth, and ensuring that those in positions of power are not permitted to ignore the law with impunity," she said.