Senior police officer investigated in arrest footage case

Senior police officer investigated in arrest footage case5 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJon IronmongerEast and London investigationsNorthamptonshire PoliceThe video, which has been published exclusively by the BBC, shows Nadine Buzzard-Quashie, who had been reported missing, being wrestled prone on to the ground by two officersA high-ranking police officer is being investigated for allegedly perverting the course of justice in connection with legal action brought by a woman who sought video footage of her arrest.The officer and two other police staff members at Northamptonshire Police are facing a criminal investigation in relation to their "engagement with the courts and subsequent statements provided as evidence" during legal action brought by Nadine Buzzard-Quashie.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the three were also under investigation for potential gross misconduct - though this did "not necessarily mean disciplinary or conduct proceedings would follow".The force declined to comment.Laurence Cawley/BBCBuzzard-Quashie is pursuing a seven-figure damages claim against the force for assault and wrongful arrestAs entitled under the Data Protection Act, Buzzard-Quashie, from London, set out to obtain the body-worn video of her arrest in Northampton in September 2021.But Northamptonshire Police repeatedly refused to hand it over, prompting her to take legal action against the county's chief constable, Ivan Balhatchet, for contempt of court.He was found guilty at the Court of Appeal in November – the first time a chief constable has received such a sanction – and ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling nearly £300,000.The video, published exclusively by the BBC, shows Buzzard-Quashie, who had been reported missing, being wrestled prone onto the ground by two officers.Police responded after being told there was a concern for her welfare.She claims her face was pushed into stinging nettles and said her treatm...