Pc’s ‘sad face’ email as crash victim survives

A POLICE constable has apologised for sending an e-mail after a car crash which appeared to suggest “disappointment” the victim had survived.
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The officer was investigating an accident which left Laura Thomas with a fractured skull, three broken bones in her neck and back and three brain bleeds, as well as damaging her eye.

Laura, who was 19 at the time, hit a rut in Fieldend Lane, between Burton Pidsea and Elstronwick in East Yorkshire, which caused the car to flip on to its roof and slide into a ditch.

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While she was in hospital in a coma, the unnamed officer sent the e-mail to another officer in the vehicle investigation branch, which read: “It looks like the driver will pull through, so no fatal for me to deal with yet”, ending the e-mail with a :( “sad face” text sign.

The internal e-mail was seen by the victim’s father Darren Thomas, following a freedom of information request, which he made to check accounts of the accident, which happened in 2009.

Mr Thomas said his daughter was still suffering the consequences of the accident: “Laura’s eye is still not brilliant and the lasting effects of her injuries will be there for the rest of her life.

“She had to give up university because of it all. We were absolutely appalled and everyone else who has seen the e-mail is.”

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He added: “I wanted to have a look at everything relating to the investigation and it was only then that I was made aware of this email.

“The way I read it was that she was disappointed that Laura didn’t die, because she wanted her first crash investigation to be fatal – she wanted to do it all in one go.”

Miss Thomas, now 22, who lives in Bilton, near Hull, said: “It was very hurtful.”

Mr Thomas lodged a formal complaint with Humberside Police asking for a full investigation and later received a letter including a statement from the officer, apologising but insisting that it had been taken out of context.

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The officer was given “words of advice” by a senior officer.

The officer’s letter of apology read: “This comment was a communication that was ill-judged and sadly could easily be regarded as inappropriate, however, I feel it has been taken and read out of context.

“In the email I used :( to depict a sad face.

“This was to convey my sadness at not, at that time, fulfilling my professional development, and certainly not to depict any sadness to the fact that Miss Thomas was recovering.”

The statement went on to say: “I am extremely upset this email was taken in a manner that has upset, distressed or offended anyone. It was certainly not intended that way.

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“I would like to apologise for any upset, distress or offence this email may have caused.

“I will certainly make sure I give much more consideration to my remarks and communications and the way they could affect and be received by others.”

In the same letter, a detective sergeant said officers had been advised to be more professional when using e-mail.

He said: “There are lessons to be learned from this investigation for both individuals and Humberside Police.

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“The officer has been spoken to about the content of her emails and a guidance and information entry has been made reminding officers to be more professional in email correspondence.

“It is clear from the detailed response provided by the officer that although she agrees the image in the email was not thought through, she understands the potential for it to be misinterpreted.

“She has, however, endeavoured to explain the reason behind the ‘sad face’ appearing in the email and I am satisfied with that explanation.

“She was not aware the email would ever be disclosed and thought it was a private communication.”