[Denver]

A POLICE force has been blasted for wasting tens of thousands of pounds on a disciplinary case against an officer – because he bought a homeless man a pack of BISCUITS.

PC Martin Rothwell paid £2 for the snacks after police were called when the man took them from a Poundland store in Chesterfield, Derbs.

The kind-hearted bobby decided to give the shop the cash for the biscuits and talk to the homeless man outside rather than arrest him.

But shockingly the officer was forced to fight to save his job after Derbyshire Police dragged him through a disciplinary hearing on Monday.

PC Rothwell admitted lying on a report of the incident, which happened in July last year,where he said the homeless man had found £2 to pay for the biscuits.

He was then subject to disciplinary action which cost Derbyshire Police thousands
The officer, who openly told colleagues he had paid for the snacks, admitted his actions amounted to misconduct and gross misconduct.

David Ring, who set out the case against PC Rothwell for the force, said the starting point “would have to be dismissal”.

He claimed that the officer had lied “in order to hide what he had done”.

But this was dismissed by barrister Nahied Asjad, chairing the hearing, who said PC Rothwell’s actions “did not amount to a cover-up”.

Ruling that the officer should be given a written warning instead, she told PC Rothwell he was a “credit to the force”.

She said he had showed “highest degree of compassion” but told him his actions were “unorthodox”.

Ms Asjad added: “Nobody in management spoke to him and explained what his mistake was.

“I have to question a lack of management in this case.

“This does not amount to a cover-up.

“He told two of his colleagues what he had done.”

Ms Asjad also revealed that thousands of pounds had been spent by Derbyshire Police on bringing the disciplinary hearing.

She added: “What does it say about the police force and target-driven standards when a police officer feels the need to lie to close the case?”

The officer was called to the disciplinary hearing after a Poundland employee reported his actions to his bosses who began a professional standards probe.

The panel heard how the homeless man was a “prolific shoplifter” who is vulnerable and sleeps rough.

After paying Poundland £2 for the two packs of biscuits, PC Rothwell took him outside and pointed him in the direction of soup kitchens and places of help.

The officer told the hearing “nobody would know if the man died tomorrow”.

He added: “Having dealt with that person, I could not expect somebody to understand the emotion I had at that time.”

Peter Goodman, Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police, defended the force’s decision to hold the hearing.

He added: “Our investigation into his actions arose from a complaint from a member of the public and we have a legal obligation to investigate.

“The disciplinary panel, which was headed by an independent legal chair, decided to deal with this matter by way of a written warning.

“Officers always have discretion about how they deal with incidents.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/317207...an-shoplifter/

[Niamh.]

Fgs

[smudgie]

So the misconduct was the lie.
He should have been given a pat on the back for his compassion, it's a bit much when you feel you have to lie about buying a pkt of biscuits.
Then again he was covering up a theft I suppose.

[T*]

I will believe it when someone other than The Shun reports it.

[Kizzy]

PC gone mad?...

When we are all governed by robocops compassion won't be an issue will it? :/

[Northern Monkey]

You can see how the shop staff might get annoyed.If this guy is a repeat offender and does it regularly and they're trying to stop it then they report it and the copper not only doesn't do anything to deter him but actually helps him.

[Kizzy]

You can see how the police might get annoyed that his job is reduced to arresting vulnerable people, I can understand how soul destroying that would be.
How would an arrest help him? There is no access to services just a fine and/or prison.

The biscuits were paid for and the man got some helpful advice, what do we want...A police service, or a police force?

I know which I prefer.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Adam.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/317207...an-shoplifter/

Shame on the member of the public for reporting it - what a spiteful sad person.

[Cherie]

At least common sense prevailed, how did this get to court, it should have been dealt with internally, where did they find the money the take it to court

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Shame on the member of the public for reporting it - what a spiteful sad person.

That's exactly what I thought

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Shame on the member of the public for reporting it - what a spiteful sad person.

Indeed, far better if they had paid for them for him.

[Toy Soldier]

It's one of these technicalities I would say. The disciplinary action will have been for deliberately lying on the report, which I would imagine is gross misconduct, rather than actually for giving the man biscuits.

I've only had disciplinary action once in my job and it was a similar situation. I did **** up (and cost the company about £1000...) by falling for the antics of a known scammer... but my official disciplinary action wasn't for losing the money, which was an honest mistake down to inexperience, but for failing to properly follow procedure / fill in the correct paperwork at the time.

My main question would be, why did he lie about it? Are they not allowed to do things like this - or did he simply feel like he would be ridiculed for paying out of his own pocket to help someone?

He should just have "accidentally dropped" the £2 next to the guy and been like "Oh look! Is that yours? Just enough to pay for your biscuits... how lucky..."

[parmnion]

A horrible story full of lies, grasses and thieves..jail em all.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It's one of these technicalities I would say. The disciplinary action will have been for deliberately lying on the report, which I would imagine is gross misconduct, rather than actually for giving the man biscuits.

I've only had disciplinary action once in my job and it was a similar situation. I did **** up (and cost the company about £1000...) by falling for the antics of a known scammer... but my official disciplinary action wasn't for losing the money, which was an honest mistake down to inexperience, but for failing to properly follow procedure / fill in the correct paperwork at the time.

My main question would be, why did he lie about it? Are they not allowed to do things like this - or did he simply feel like he would be ridiculed for paying out of his own pocket to help someone?

He should just have "accidentally dropped" the £2 next to the guy and been like "Oh look! Is that yours? Just enough to pay for your biscuits... how lucky..."

I very much doubt it. It would be deemed as showing favouritism.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by parmnion

A horrible story full of lies, grasses and thieves..jail em all.

What are 'grasses'?

[parmnion]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

What are 'grasses'?

Clipes.

[Tom4784]

I'd say it's more to do with the fact he lied on a report but that doesn't make for quite the sensationalist headline does it?

[Northern Monkey]

So suppose this homeless guy kept doing it every day because he knows the police will just pay for them for him if he gets caught.
Who does the shop manager call if the police won't help?
Then the shop is known as an easy target so all the guys mates start doing it.Next thing you know it's known as 'the local food bank for the homeless'.

When do you draw the line?Do you let it get out of hand before you deal with it?
Or do the police uphold the law even if they do feel sorry for homeless people?
Is letting crime go undeterred the answer to dealing with homelessness?

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I'd say it's more to do with the fact he lied on a report but that doesn't make for quite the sensationalist headline does it?

He didn't lie, he stated the guy got some money to pay, and he did....where's the lie?