How A ‘Bent’ Policeman Could Be Key To Clearing A Man’S Name, 40 Years On

[mikey4444]

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/aug/28/stephen-simmons-arrested-mailbag-theft-1976-hopes-clear-his-name

Amazing story ! Apparently this chap was advised by a duty solicitor to plead guilty As "the Judge would jail him for a long time"

43 years is a long time to prove your innocence.

[wolf63]

I read about it yesterday. I was surprised that, after the police officer was sent to prison, no investigation was carried out on his arrests .

[jno]

I don't suppose taking the solicitor's advice would have helped him. But yes, I think there was still a strong presumption then that the police would never lie - and in fact there probably still is.

[emmie]

and there are others waiting in the wings also to get exonerated

[sapelesam]

I have always been a supporter of our Police, but on the law of averages, there will always be some rotten apples. My home was once burgled using information provided by a serving Police Officer. On a more trivial matter, I once received three points and a fine due to a lying Police Officer. Yet I still support the Police.

[mikey4444]

Emmie...lets hope so !

The difficulty with this poor chaps case, back in 1975, is that as soon as Plod appeared in the witness box, with his little notebook and his shiny buttons, he was immediately believed. It was before all the cases that came after, when Plod was shown that they could be liars.

[emmie]

did you not note that the same policeman was caught stealing mailbags and i think though don't quote me he died in prison.. That was on the news last night..

[emmie]

cleared after it emerged that the police officer who arrested him was not only a mailbag thief himself but also notorious for a series of high-profile cases that had major ramifications for race relations.

[emmie]

from your link ^^

[mikey4444]

I did Emmie, and its included in the Guardian link above.

But Pold hasn't shown much enthusiasm for policing its own Staff. Many Police have found to be wanting and yet very few are in Prison.

[hereIam]

I know it's not relevant, but he was a good looking young man. Hope he gets justice.