Former policeman’s fury at hours in cell

Aug 13 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

AFORMER police officer was arrested and held in a cell for more than two hours after challenging yobs.

Paul Lawson, 52, got out of his car to confront youths in Morpeth after they threw a beer can at the vehicle as he drove past.

But after complaining to two police officers that the yobs threatened to kill him and smash up his vehicle, he was astonished to find himself accused of attacking one of the gang.

Mr Lawson was asked to attend a police station, arrested and had his fingerprints and DNA sample taken, before being interviewed and bailed on suspicion of assault causing bodily harm.

After several weeks of worry, the former inspector was eventually told by his solicitor that no further action would be taken. But he remains furious that the yobs who threatened to attack him have never been brought to justice.

Northumbria Police said they needed to speak to the inspector involved before they could establish fully what happened.

Yesterday Mr Lawson, who retired to his native county following a 30-year career with the Metropolitan Police, said the way Northumbria Police handled the affair was an “utter disgrace”.

He said: “I still just can’t believe it. At the time this happened, I was distraught going through the whole process, bearing in mind the background I come from.

“As far as I am concerned, they just abrogated their responsibility and should be ashamed of themselves.” Mr Lawson, who lives with his 54-year-old wife Chris, a nurse, returned to Northumberland in 2006 after retiring from the Met. He had been an inspector with the Professional Standards Unit, where his role involved investigating the conduct of police officers.

The Morpeth incident happened late on a Friday night as Mrs Lawson drove her husband and his brother out of a town centre car park following a night out.

Mr Lawson said: “They were the usual crowd of boy racers who gather in Morpeth and I got out and moved towards them. I was going to make a citizen’s arrest, but things very quickly turned nasty. I was surrounded by about 12 of them.

“They told me to leave or they would kill me and the ringleader said if he saw my car parked in Morpeth again they would wreck it.”

He found two patrolling police officers in the town centre and reported the incident to them, but said they did not bother to take his details and simply promised to patrol the area.

A fortnight later, he was summoned to Bedlington police station, where he was interviewed, arrested and held in a cell for more than two hours.

He said: “I was told I had been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and that a youth claimed I had grabbed and bruised him. I was absolutely furious.

“The police refused my solicitor’s request that there was clearly no need for further action, and I was released on bail. About seven weeks after the original incident, I got a call to say there was no case to answer. It caused a lot of worry and stress for my wife and I.

“Up to today, I have not heard about any action taken against the youths who threatened me. I am still waiting for my allegations to be investigated and I am very angry about the whole experience.

“After 30 years of serving as a policeman and upholding the Queen’s peace, I could have acted as a professional witness and perhaps got rid of yobs who at times are the scourge of Morpeth.”

Last night Chief Insp John Barnes, of the Northumbria Police Northumberland Area Command, said: “Until the full facts are known and we have been able to address this incident with the neighbourhood inspector concerned, it is not possible to comment further.

“However, anyone who feels unhappy with the way they have been treated by Northumbria Police can always make use of our official complaints procedure.’’

I was going to make a citizen’s arrest, but things very quickly turned nasty