Streatham stabbings: Terror response PC cleared of dangerous driving
- Published
PC Paul Fisher's unmarked car crashed into a wall after hitting two other cars
An armed policeman who crashed while racing to the scene of a terrorist stabbing attack in south London has been cleared of dangerous driving.
PC Paul Fisher, 46, made a "split-second error" when he lost control of a Met Police unmarked BMW X5 on the way to Streatham.
Southwark Crown Court heard PC Fisher admitted he "let people down" but denied dangerous driving.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley branded the prosecution "appalling".
The court heard how PC Fisher reached speeds of more than 80mph (129km/h). His vehicle ran into the back of a taxi before hitting another car and a wall, the court heard.
Three people escaped with minor injuries in the crash.
The police car did not have its blue lights on at the time because they had accidentally been switched off by one of the occupants, the jury heard.
Along with two other armed officers, who were his passengers, former Royal Marine PC Fisher was responding to a stabbing spree by recently released prisoner Sudesh Amman, on 2 February 2020.
Speaking outside the court following the verdict, Sir Mark said the case "undermines the confidence of all officers using their powers to keep the public safe".
He added: "No other country in the world would haul one of its most highly trained officers before a court for responding to one of the most serious incidents we can deal with and doing their utmost to preserve life."
Sudesh Amman was suspected of having "extremist views" and was under surveillance at the time of the stabbings
During his stabbing spree, Amman grabbed a large kitchen knife from a hardware store on Streatham High Road and attacked two members of the public at random. Both survived.
Little over a minute later, the 20-year-old was shot dead after pivoting to charge at two undercover police officers.
Defending PC Fisher, barrister Kevin Baumber said: "The last thing [he] intended was any kind of harm at all. Not all collisions are crimes."
'Seconds make a difference'
The officer described the moment he found out Amman had begun stabbing people as "pandemonium".
In a statement given to the Met Police, PC Fisher, who joined the force in 2010, said he had believed Amman might be wearing a suicide vest and wanted to get to the scene quickly.
He continued: "The radio operator said 'he's stabbing people'.
"I had to use my driving skills to the maximum of my ability to literally save lives. I believed he would continue to stab people... seconds can make a difference."
'Respect jury's decision'
During the trial, PC Fisher said of the crash: "It was my mistake, I failed that day. I let people down and I can only apologise for that."
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), which first investigated the officer's conduct, said it would be "liaising with the force on the next steps", which could involve gross misconduct proceedings.
IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: "There is no doubt that PC Fisher was responding to a life-threatening incident in February 2020.
"A jury, having considered all of the evidence, has acquitted him of dangerous driving and we respect that decision."
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