PC Howard Latham - DIVISIONAL COMMENDATION

Five police officers have been commended after a motorist admitted causing death by dangerous driving – while under the influence of drink and drugs – and was jailed for four years.

Ch. Supt. Jane Horwood, head of policing in South Worcestershire, said: “A long - 13 months - and complex investigation involving excellent work of the officers eventually led to a guilty plea.

“This was a tragic incident where one young man lost his life and two other people were injured.

“The vehicle was being driven at very high speed at Marlbank, Welland on 31st May 2008 when it left the carriageway and somersaulted several times into an adjacent field before coming to rest. Unfortunately the front seat passenger had been ejected from the vehicle and was killed.”

Ch. Supt. Horwood said that after securing and preserving the scene, Sgt. Richard Robson, the Senior Investigating Officer, “managed the investigation over several months, displaying great leadership and decision-making skills.

“He had the foresight to arrange blood samples to be taken from the driver at the hospital. This proved crucial to the case as these revealed significant amounts of drugs and alcohol, which were deemed to have affected the driver's judgement to the point of it being impaired.

PC Matt Leader, the ‘officer-in-case, “acted with great tenacity, producing an excellent file of evidence to present to the Crown Court, where the quality of this investigation was commented on by both the prosecuting barrister and the judge,” said Ch. Supt. Horwood.

Family Liaison Officers PCs Howard Latham and Paul Pickering faced “a complex and delicate situation, as the three people in the vehicle were all related in some form.

“This inevitably led to friction between various family members and both officers acted with professionalism and sensitivity maintaining communication channels in what were very difficult circumstances.”

PC Graham Powell, a member of the Force Collision Investigation Unit, “secured all the evidence available and ensured it was presented impeccably.

“He revisited the scene on several occasions, and as a result of his perseverance and dedication was able to give the investigating officers an indication of the speed of the vehicle which, coupled with other factors, enabled them to charge with offences at the more serious end of the spectrum.”

Sgt. Robson was commended for his leadership and decision-making skills and – along with PCs Pickering, Powell, Leader and Latham - for perseverance and dedication.