Independent review into arrest footage case begins

An independent review is under way into how and why Northamptonshire Police failed to hand over body-worn video of an arrest to the courts.

Nadine Buzzard-Quahsie's car was stopped and she said her face was pushed into stinging nettles during the incident in September 2021.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has already confirmed that two police staff members and a senior police officer will be investigated criminally for allegedly perverting the course of justice over the incident.

The county's police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) has launched the review. Northamptonshire Police said it would engage fully with the inquiry.

The years-long battle for the arrest footage culminated in the chief of police, Ivan Balhatchet, being found in contempt of court in November.

The Court of Appeal found the police staff provided inaccurate and incorrect statements to the court on the chief constable's behalf, despite audit logs revealing the existence of further footage.

The force was ordered to pay a £50,000 fine.

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, shortly after the ruling, the Northamptonshire PFCC Danielle Stone said she was "not content just" with the force reviewing itself.

The independent review will be conducted by deputy police, fire and crime commissioner Marianne Kimani and former chief crown prosecutor Patricia Richardson will act as an independent advisor.

The terms of reference for the review have now been published, highlighting the key objectives and scope of the investigation.

Rebuilding public trust in Northamptonshire Police is identified as a key aim.

It states it will consider systemic factors that may have led to the non-compliance, as well as looking into when senior leaders first became aware of the matters, what policies and procedures were in place at the time, and an assessment of the force's actions afterwards to ensure lessons can be learned.

Northamptonshire Police is also conducting its own internal investigation.

A PFCC spokesperson added: "Work is well under way on the remedial actions which the force is taking, which will be scrutinised by our independent reviewer when complete."

No timeline for the publication of the report has been given at this stage.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said they "welcomed" the independent review.

"The force recognises the seriousness of the issues raised by the court and will engage fully and transparently with it. However, this case remains the subject of an IOPC investigation and, as such, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The IOPC said its own investigation started on 19 November in relation to two police staff members and one senior police officer.

They would be investigated for "potential gross misconduct" - the spokesperson said - but that "this does not necessarily mean disciplinary or criminal proceedings will follow".

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