Police chief found in contempt over arrest footage

Ivan Balhatchet joined Northamptonshire Police in 2000, serving as a senior investigating officer and hostage negotiator

A police chief has been found in contempt of court by judges after his force failed to produce video footage of an arrest.

An appeal court judgement ruled Northamptonshire Police had been "willfully disobedient" after "repeatedly" failing to obey rulings to hand over video to a complainant who had been wrongly arrested by three officers in 2021.

The judgement said Nadine Buzzard-Quashie gave an account of being "physically assaulted by the officers who arrested her", but the force refused to issue footage.

After winning an appeal on Tuesday, three judges said the law allowed Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet to be found personally liable – and he could face up to two years in prison.

After the verdict, Northamptonshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Danielle Stone, described the situation as "shocking" and said she had asked for a full report on the circumstances.

As first reported by The Guardian, Ms Buzzard-Quashie was taken into custody in September 2021. Despite being held, prosecutors dropped the case.

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

Nadine Buzzard-Quashie said she was "elated" at the judgement

Ms Buzzard-Quashie complained to the Information Commissioner's Office, which made an order that all video should be handed over, which the force ignored. A county court judge made another order, which the force failed to obey again.

The force told the courts it did not have any more video to hand over, then reversed its position at a hearing in October.

The Court of Appeal judgement said: "This means that all the statements made to the court on behalf of the police force prior to mid-October 2025 were false."

Lady Justice Asplin, Lord Justice Coulson and Lord Justice Fraser said "misleading and untrue statements"… had been made to the court "on behalf of the chief constable" to both the county and the Court of Appeal in relation to the application for permission to appeal – and the appeal itself.

The three senior judges said: "What has occurred in this case concerning the retention, production, refusal to produce and possible deletion of such video footage is a matter of significant concern."

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

In a statement issued by her legal representative, Janes Solicitors, Ms Buzzard-Quashie said she was "elated that justice has finally prevailed".

"This case is not only about my right to access my own data," she said.

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

"Northamptonshire Police acted in an arrogant and high-handed manner by ignoring my requests for documents, as well as the findings of the Information Commissioner's Office and a County Court order.

"It is astonishing that after four years I am still battling to get a frank, open and honest response about what they did to the evidence around my wrongful arrest and why."

Marc Livingston, who acted for Ms Buzzard-Quashie, said: "It is absolutely astonishing that the scale of [Northamptonshire Police's] non-compliance only became clear in the two weeks before the Appeal Hearing.

"The Court of Appeal decision vindicates Ms Buzzard-Quashie taking the draconian steps she did and is a testament to her dignified persistence."

The solicitor said a further hearing on 20 November would determine what sanction the chief constable would face.

'We fell short'

Mr Balhatchet, who has been Northamptonshire's chief constable since succeeding Nick Adderley in October 2023, could face up to two years' imprisonment or a fine.

In a statement, Northamptonshire Police said it "notes the judgement handed down in the case".

It said: "An apology for the issues has already been given in the shape of the chief constable's witness statement which has been entered as evidence.

"We acknowledge we fell short in terms of providing the Body Worn Footage in a timely fashion and our failure to locate further missing footage when asked.

"The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)."

Danielle Stone described the "situation as shocking" and said she had noted that an apology had been made by the force

Labour PFCC Stone said: "This situation is shocking. I note that the chief constable has taken corporate responsibility and rightly made a full apology on behalf of the force – but that does not make the court's judgement any less serious.

"I know this matter will have an impact on public confidence at a time when we are working hard to rebuild trust in Northamptonshire Police. The impact on the victim is also clear to me."

She said she had made a "voluntary referral" to the IOPC.

"I have written to the force and asked them to make a rapid assessment of the actions of the other officers and staff involved in this case, to decide whether any other matters should be referred to the IOPC," she added.

"I have also asked for a full report on how this was allowed to happen, and I expect clear assurance that it cannot happen again.

"I won't comment further at this stage until I hear back from the IOPC, and until the court has decided on any sanction."