Fury as crash cop keeps his job

Brian Lashley

September 22, 2004

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FINED: Tariq Mahmood

A POLICEMAN who fled from a car crash leaving two women and a child injured and then attempted to stage a cover-up has been allowed to keep his job.

Tariq Mahmood, 30, who was based at Bootle Street, Manchester, has been fined a week's wages by Greater Manchester Police after an internal disciplinary hearing and is now free to return to work.

The road safety charity, Brake, which is dedicated to stopping deaths and injuries on roads, said the decision to allow Mahmood to return to work was "outrageous".

A spokesman added: "He showed no regard for the safety of his victims and made every effort to cover his tracks. Police officers should be setting a good example for other drivers, rather than showing that you can get away with it if you're on the right side of the law."

The officer has previously blamed his behaviour on the trauma he suffered after the murder of his mother more than three years before the crash.

At his trial earlier this year, Bolton magistrates heard that the officer, from Ashton under Lyne, tried to cheat justice after the accident in October last year.

PC Mahmood, who joined Greater Man-chester Police in 1994 as a special constable, was off duty when his red Alfa Romeo collided with a Peugeot 106 in Stamford Street East, Ashton under Lyne.

Despite the fact that two women and a child in the other car required hospital treatment for minor injuries, the court was told, PC Mahmood drove off at "high speed".

He then tried to cover his tracks by having his car sprayed metallic blue.

When he discovered his police colleagues were on to him, he tried to persuade his then girlfriend and his sister to say they had been driving at the time of the crash.

When he was caught he claimed he had not been thinking straight because he was traumatised by the killing of his mother in Pakistan in 1999.

Depression

He was referred to a psychiatrist and has been on long-term sick leave suffering from depression, anxiety and chronic back problems.

The court fined him '575 after he was convicted of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without insurance. He was banned from driving for a year.

When he appeared before his bosses this week Pc Mahmood admitted breaching the police code of conduct and had about '425 docked from his wages.

A GMP spokesman said: "PC Tariq Mahmood pleaded guilty to breaching the Police Code of Conduct at his internal disciplinary hearing. PC Mahmood received a fine equating to seven days' wages and will be re-posted as a result of the offence.

"PC Mahmood's mitigating personal circumstances were taken into consideration during the proceedings. His new duties will not include driving."

A fellow officer based at Bootle Street said: "It's a terrible decision. It is an utter and complete joke. Officers have been sacked for a lot less.

"How can he be taken seriously the next time he arrests someone."

Paul Kelly, chairman of the police union, the Police Federation for Greater Manchester, said: "I don't know the details of this specific case. But chief officers have obviously taken into account the mitigating circumstances and he did receive the maximum fine.

"Unlike members of the public in these circumstances police officers face two sanctions. I was a traffic officer and consider traffic offences to be right up there with other criminal offences.

"We do have some officers, who are few and far between, serving with minor criminal convictions after making an honest mistake. Without knowing the full details of this case it sounds on the borderline."

Should Pc Mahmood have kept his job? Have your say.

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gary, manchester (22/09/2004 at 11:26)

This is disgrace, he commits an offence such as this and escapes.. What kind of an example is this,

J, Manchester (22/09/2004 at 11:27)

Why on earth has this man been allowed to keep his job? Why wasn`t he charged with perverting the course of justice? If an unemployed man from Salford with a few criminal convictions had done this then no doubt the police would have thrown the book at him. I despair.

steve, warrington (22/09/2004 at 11:48)

Paul Kelly, chairman of the police union, the Police Federation for Greater Manchester, said: "We do have some officers, who are few and far between, serving with minor criminal convictions after making an honest mistake."

Can someone tell me what was honest about what Pc Mahmood did?

And on a medical front, how does depression cause chronic back pain.

Would like to know as I fancy some time off work.

Dave, Stockport (22/09/2004 at 12:04)

Is this another case of political correctness gone crazy ?

anon, manchester (22/09/2004 at 12:26)

I am a police officer myself and i agree with the thoughts of many, how on earth did this man keep his job? I know that alot of police officers have lost their jobs for far less. How will the public back the police when we are seen to treat our own different from the general public. r well there you go.

Disgusted, Cheadle (22/09/2004 at 12:37)

Once again it appears that there is one rule for the Police and one rule for Joe Public. He should have lost his job and served a 3 month custodial sentence. Justice, what a joke

Dave, Manchester (22/09/2004 at 13:27)

Appalling decision! I can only reiterate the comments made by the officer from Bootle Street, sorry to say if this was a 'PC Smith' would it have had the same outcome?

A Berbridge, Fallowfield (22/09/2004 at 14:50)

Hot on the heels of the grotesque pay increase for the Chief Constable , this shows the huge gulf between the police and those policed represented by burglary response times ( a joke ) , fudged crime figures, over -aggressive policing and now this spectacular piece of decision making. I must look at the wording in the next recruitment advert for police and see if it mentions intelligence and honesty required. Heavens , they`ll be asking for the cooperation of the general public next.

joe, radcliffe (22/09/2004 at 15:02)

I wonder if he will have the courage to resign?

NW, Salford (22/09/2004 at 15:31)

This is an outrageous decision from senior management of GMP and beggars belief.
As a serving officer at the back end of my career I am appalled that this man can keep his job.
He has been found guilty of serious traffic offences the circumstances of which have been compounded by DISHONESTY and as such he is a disgrace and not fit to wear the uniform.

Jack O'Neil, Rushlome, Manchester (22/09/2004 at 15:49)

Any system of justice must aim to reform the deliquent, prevent further crimes and repair scandal. This officer has paid the price for his conduct,, very hefty fines indeed, also he had lost his public reputation. Something he will now have to attempt to rebuild. In making their judgement ,his superiors rightly took into account mitigating circumstance - the murder of his mother. How many of those who have so quickly condemned this decision have experienced such horror. I doubt none of them. Given these personal circumstances the full weight of the law was rightly relaxed. In no way has this officer got off 'scott free'. We must continue to remember what the purpose of justice is - punishment to save the person, not punishment for punishements sake.

Ann Schafer, Idaho (22/09/2004 at 15:59)

I agree with Dave of Manchester.
Would plain PC Smith have been treated so leniently?

d keeley, moss side (22/09/2004 at 16:00)

NO Way should he kep job

AS, Manchester (22/09/2004 at 16:30)

I can't see him staying in the force for long. Who would want to work with him?

Andy, Salford (22/09/2004 at 18:07)

Absolutely unbelievable - how can GMP justify this man keeping his job after showing such blatent disregard for the law? I can only echo previous contributers and wonder what would have been the outcome if this officer had been white?

GMP need to increase the number of ethnic minorities within the ranks but there is no way they should do this by ignoring such a henious offence - all this does is foster resentment; both towards the Police as a whole but also towards the special treatment ethnic minorities receive from GMP

Joe, Warrington (22/09/2004 at 20:23)

This is outrageous, that man is not fit to wear the uniform.
In todays age of policitical correctness and employers being afraid of the "race bandwagon" it makes me wonder whether GMP were too afraid to dismiss him, as no doubt many would have deemed that decision to be racist.
I wonder, if this offence had been committed by a white officer, would he or she have kept their job.
This wasn't just one mistake it was downright dishonesty on his behalf. If I was a colleague of his I sure as hell would not want to work with him.

Police Constable, Greater Manchester Police (22/09/2004 at 21:36)

I have the deepest of sympathy for tariq, having suffered the loss of his mother in such tragic circumstances.
However, I could not even consider working alongside him now and I wonder how many of my colleagues would feel the same. The "Police" are scrutinised from every angle and I would not want to have to rely on him as I could not place my trust in him. I would not want to lose any case I was involved in on account of his credibility as a witness. I firmly believe that Tariq should have been dismissed, or asked to resign. Once again the actions of a tiny minority have blighted the reputation of our police force, which I must stress is constantly trying to improve relations with the public we serve.

aaa, Derby (22/09/2004 at 22:51)

After being convicted of these serious offences, this officer should have been sacked by GMP Chief Constable Mike Todd.
There is only one thing that saved Mahmood from being dismissed from the force, and that is his ethnicity.
Senior Managers in todays police service seem to be afraid to dispence with the services of officers from ethnic monorities, for fear of being accused of racisim.
As mentioned in your article, there are other officers who have committed less serious offences who have been dismissed from the service. Ex GMP Traffic Officer

Mike, New Mills, Derbyshire (22/09/2004 at 23:02)

As an ex GMP Traffic Officer, I am disgusted that this officer has been allowed to keep his job after being convicted of such serious offences. His ethnicity may have something to do with it. He should be "down the road". Who will want to work with him now?

garry, rossendale (22/09/2004 at 23:04)

I'm also a serving officer and not atall surprised by the ruling.Ch supt Scohfield of gmp was moved last year because he pointed out the huge difference between punishments for white and non white officers.He even provided evidence but as usual it was quickly swept under the carpet.

Mike Torkington, New Mills, Derbyshire (22/09/2004 at 23:09)

He should have been sacked. Maybe his ethnicity had something to do with the decision!

alan johnson, liverpool (23/09/2004 at 01:35)

As a serving police officer I see the aftermath of criminal use of the road and the impact it has upon victims of incidents involving offenders who fail to stop after accidents. It is appalling that this person can be allowed to keep his job following the extreme circumstances of this incident and the extraordinary lengths that this person went to try to cover his tracks. No wonder the public have no faith in the police investigating themselves if this is the outcome.
Surely as in criminal courts the time has come when the "prosecution" in these cases have the right to appeal such ludicrous decisions.
Just when we need public support more than ever the Bosses come up with a gem
Thanks!!!!!!!!!

John Cooper, Irvine, California (23/09/2004 at 05:03)

Looks like a good prospect for the Belgium or French army. But, as he ran away, was he screaming? His mother must be proud of his response during a time of crisis, his grandfather would probably take a boot to his head though.

Ian, Chorlton (23/09/2004 at 06:40)

This man is a disgrace to his uniform, good, hard working officers should be ashamed to work with him. All the work that the new chief constable has done to improve the force, has just been demolished in one decision. The public will have no faith in this officer and the Chief Constable should re-consider his position.

Wobbly, Manchester (23/09/2004 at 07:10)

As a serving police officer I am appalled that this person has been allowed to keep his job. We have to work hard enough these days to maintain public confidence.

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