PC Fran Croucher – another story.

A female police officer has been beaten unconscious and kicked during a routine stop-check on a Transit van that had its rear number plate missing.

Pc Fran Croucher was attacked by two of the van’s occupants after she ordered them to pull over in Crockenhill Road, Swanley, Kent, at about 8.30pm on Thursday night.

As she was inspecting the van, two of the people who had been inside punched and kicked her before getting back into the vehicle and driving away in the direction of Bromley.

When another patrol arrived at the scene, they found PC Froucher unconscious on the ground. She had suffered cuts and bruises and was taken to hospital where she was treated and later discharged.

Kent Police described the assault as “unprovoked and vicious”, and said they were looking for a blue Transit van that had three men inside.

This shows how effective and productive a single crewing policy has been to allow for the best use of resources.  The efficiency savings must also enhance the business case produced by someone who has not got the same workplace environment as those who patrol single crewed in the communities across the land.

The really big problem is that when things get a little bit dark and one officer has to deal with an incident involving more than one person, which is on a regular basis, problems occur and there is not always backup close by.

Again, a little different when you consider the workplace environment of those at the sharp end and those who make or enforce the policies from on high.

Another stunning endorsement from those who see the world from a business case perspective, knowing that most of the time we make it work and some of the time it all goes wrong. When it goes wrong, what happens to the duty of care in the light of the weight of a business case. 

Perhaps it is a bit early to pre-judge what went on, the arguments and uninformed viewpoints.

I have been a Police Officer for long enough to know that this occurs on a regular basis, with small consideration to the welfare or possible risk to officers all over the country until such time that something like this happens and the shock, horror, dismay rises above the parapet for all too short a time. Then everything settles down as though nothing ever happened. Until the next officer is attacked for doing their job, for dealing with the section of society that has no regard for law, no regard for anyone else apart from themselves and because the odds are stacked so much in their favour.

The policy makers need to think about this from behind their desks or when they have their meetings in their offices.

The Chief Constable of Kent Police has made an appeal on her behalf.

There has been an update to the above story and all might not be as first reported.

Kent attack claim police woman arrested

A Kent policewoman who said she had been beaten unconscious and kicked during a routine stop and check operation has been arrested. Pc Fran Croucher was questioned on suspicion of misconduct and has been suspended while inquiries continue. Kent Police appealed for information after the incident in Crockenhill Road, Swanley, on 14 January. Pc Croucher said she had been attacked during the routine search of a van which had a missing rear number plate. She was taken to hospital and later discharged. In a statement, the police force said: “An officer has been interviewed by the force’s professional standards department as part of an investigation into an alleged assault. “The officer is suspended from duty while the investigation continues, and has been bailed pending further inquiries. “No further comment will be made while the investigation continues.” It will be interesting to await the outcome of this one.

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