Norfolk hit-and-run scandal officer faces misconduct hearing

PC Karl Warren was behind the wheel of the marked BMW when he drove into the back of a female motorist at 50mph in March 2022.

He initially did not face disciplinary action for failing to stop and report the crash after medical evidence suggested he had been suffering amnesia at the time, which left him with no memory of the crash.

A Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team (RAPT) vehicle crashing into the back of an Audi on the A146 (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)The police BMW X5 armed response vehicle continues without stopping (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

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But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) ruled that the force was wrong not to pursue misconduct procedures.

A disciplinary panel, which began hearing evidence on Monday, heard written evidence from the woman whose car was hit on the A146 Barnby Bends saying that she had been shocked the police vehicle drove on despite the collision. 

A second officer, PC Ryan Hargrave, who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, told the panel he had never met PC Warren before starting work with him at 7am on the day of the crash. 

PC Ryan Hargrave after misconduct meeting at Norfolk police headquarters (Image: Newsquest)

Describing the incident he said the police vehicle had “got a bit too close and I expected us to slow down and we just didn’t”.

He said he had asked PC Warren what had happened and why he had not stopped but he had just mumbled “I don’t know”.

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Asked if he had thought PC Warren had suffered a medical episode he said he had appeared “bewildered about what had happened”.

The crash happened on the A146 Barnby Bends between Lowestoft and Beccles (Image: Newsquest)

PC Hargrave, who was given a written warning following a separate disciplinary hearing in October, detailed how the officers had exchanged conversation and general “chit chat” prior to the accident.

But he added that following the collision there had been no further exchanges between them before their shift ended almost half an hour later.

The hearing continues.