Police forced fined for health and safety failings

A police force has been prosecuted and fined £85,800 after a student police officer was struck by a car and sustained life-threatening injuries.

The officer was responding to a traffic collision and was stood on a bend managing traffic at the time of the incident. The road has no street lighting and the speed limit was 60mph. The HSE’s investigation identified failings in the police force’s risk management and safety systems, including shortcomings in risk assessment, supervision and the procedures used to protect officers in traffic environments.

The police force pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.