Police Chief Faces Heavy Fine for Defying Court Orders
The chief constable of Northamptonshire Police has been hit with a £50,000 fine for contempt of court after his force repeatedly ignored judicial orders to hand over video evidence. Ivan Balhatchet appeared in person at the Court of Appeal, where three senior judges condemned what they described as "wilfully disobedient" behaviour by the police force.
Four-Year Legal Battle Over Wrongful Arrest
The case centres around Nadine Buzzard-Quashie, who was arrested by Northamptonshire officers in September 2021. Although prosecutors quickly dropped the case against her, it sparked a four-year legal battle as she sought footage from police body-worn cameras of her arrest.
Despite multiple court orders demanding the release of the video evidence, Northamptonshire Police consistently failed to comply. The force even ignored an order from the Information Commissioner's Office before subsequently disregarding a county court judge's ruling.
Shocking Admission and Personal Apology
During Thursday's hearing, counsel for the police force, Dijen Basu KC, described their conduct as "shocking" and admitted it was "utterly inexcusable". He acknowledged that over the four-year period, the force had breached every single order made against it.
Chief Constable Balhatchet appeared in full uniform to personally apologise to both the court and Ms Buzzard-Quashie. He stated: "The failure of my force has been appalling" and admitted being left speechless by the "numerous errors" that had caused significant hurt to the complainant.
Missing Evidence Comes to Light
In a damning revelation, the judges confirmed that one video clip eventually handed over to Ms Buzzard-Quashie vindicated her concerns about the arrest. The court heard that police had previously claimed this particular clip didn't exist, despite it having been viewed by officers earlier in the process.
The judicial panel, consisting of Lady Justice Asplin, Lord Justice Coulson and Lord Justice Fraser, determined that the contempt by police was so prolonged that a public finding alone was insufficient punishment. They decided a substantial fine was necessary to "reflect the seriousness of the case".
Watchdog Investigation Launched
The matter has now been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). An IOPC spokesperson confirmed they would investigate two staff members and one senior police officer, though not Chief Constable Balhatchet himself.
The judges praised Ms Buzzard-Quashie's "tenacity and resilience" throughout the ordeal, noting that without her determination, "none of this would have seen the light of day". While considering imprisonment for the chief constable, the court ultimately opted for the £50,000 fine, describing the force's behaviour as a "public humiliation and shaming".
