Dudley police misconduct hearing: Inspector denies going to wrong pizza place amid calls for back-up
An inspector has denied going to the wrong pizza place when colleagues called for back-up to deal with a fight, a misconduct panel heard.
Inspector Jaswant Singh also claims he radioed through instructions from inside Olivio in Stourbridge – not in the High Street, as has been claimed.
Insp Singh said he had entered the High Street takeaway but fellow officers had not seen him, because they were escorting 'a large man' out of the premises after trouble had flared up.
The West Midlands Police misconduct panel had heard Insp Singh, who was the duty inspector for Dudley at the time, had told officers to 'slow down' because he believed the situation had been brought under control when he arrived. The hearing was also told on Monday how Insp Singh had allegedly gone to Romino's pizza further along the High Street by mistake at 2.30am on February 23 last year. Insp Singh has denied failing to carry out his duties diligently by sending out the message telling officer to slow down before lying to officers about what happened.
Insp Singh, giving evidence during yesterday's hearing, said: "I entered Olivio's by the front entrance and saw the other officers were by the counter.
"I would say there were about 50 people in there. There were about six to seven muscular men involved but when I arrived they were taking one individual out. Sergeant Bailey brushed up alongside me. I tried to get his attention but he was clearly very, very busy." Insp Singh said earlier assumptions from Pc Shaun Lyle, who had also given evidence, that he had heard him radioing through his instructions from Stourbridge High Street and not from inside the restaurant, were 'totally wrong'.
Evidence was also heard yesterday from Pc Alex Hadley, Pc Matthew Saul, Pc Andy Poole and Sgt James Harrison.
All said they had decided to continue to the scene despite being told to 'slow down' by Insp Singh.
Alison Hewitt, presenting of behalf of the relevant authority, claimed Insp Singh's evidence was 'not credible' because of the actions he took and because no other officer remembered seeing him in Olivio.
The hearing continues today.
