Man arrested and locked up for five hours after taking photo of police van ignoring 'no entry' sign
By Andy Dolan
Last updated at 9:32 AM on 20th August 2008
When Andrew Carter saw a police van ignore no-entry signs to reverse up a one-way street to reach a chip shop, he was understandably moved to protest to the driver.
Particularly as he lives on the road and always goes out of his way to obey the signs.
But his complaint brought a volley of abuse from PC Aqil Farooq.
And when Mr Carter took a picture of the van then tried to photograph the officer, PC Farooq rushed out of the shop and knocked his camera to the ground.
Mr Carter was then arrested and bundled into the van over claims he had 'assaulted' an officer with his camera, resisted arrest and was drunk and disorderly.
He was held in a police cell for five hours before being released on bail at midnight.
Mr Carter, 44, lodged a complaint and has since received a personal apology from PC Farooq and Rob Beckley, deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
The force yesterday refused to comment on the case, except to say that the disciplinary process was resolved to Mr Carter's 'satisfaction'.
It is understood no further action was taken against PC Farooq, who is a member of the Black Police Association's Avon and Somerset branch.
According to a report from the Bristol Equalities Network published two years ago, PC Farooq's duties within the BPA included work with the wider community on 'good relations with the police'. At the time he was the branch's general secretary.
Yesterday, Mr Carter from Bedminster, Bristol, described his ordeal as a 'very frightening experience'.
Andrew Carter's photo of an illegally parked police van
The self-employed plumber was walking his dogs when he saw PC Farooq, who was with a female colleague, ignore no-entry signs to reverse along the road in January and park outside a fish and chip shop.
Mr Carter said: 'The no-entry signs mean you are supposed to drive all the way around the block, like I do every night, but there are a fair number of people who don't obey them.
'I was nearly knocked down once so when the police van did it I sort of said, "Hey mate no entry" but he just shouted out the window, "F*** off, this is police business".
'But when I took a photo of them he came running out, battered the camera from my hand on to the floor and arrested me for three crimes, none of which I'd committed.'
PC Farooq and his unnamed colleague claim they were at the takeaway to examine CCTV footage relating to a separate event.
Mr Carter was never charged with any offence. His complaint over his wrongful arrest led PC Farooq to face a disciplinary tribunal last month, which Mr Carter attended.
PC Farooq made a face-to-face apology at the hearing.
Mr Beckley, who chaired the tribunal, apologised to Mr Carter in writing for PC Farooq's 'totally unacceptable' behaviour and said the officer's future performance will be monitored.
Mr Carter said he is 'relatively happy' with the outcome as he hadn't wanted the officer sacked. However, he is still pursuing compensation from the force.
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