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PC sues police chief over vote-rigging claims
A SERVING police officer is suing South Yorkshire's chief constable Med Hughes over claims he suffered depression and anxiety after losing a union election which was rigged by colleagues.
PC Tom Goodhill claims he lost the South Yorkshire Police Federation election for the role of joint branch board secretary after colleagues destroyed votes in his favour and substituted them with papers for another candidate who went on to win.
Following the election PC Goodhill made a formal complaint, and South Yorkshire Police conducted an internal investigation.
But although it was found the election had been rigged, disciplinary proceedings were never brought and no-one was ever charged with a criminal offence.
PC Goodhill is suing chief constable Meredydd Hughes for 'misfeance in public office'.
He claims the vote-rigging was deliberate, officers acted dishonestly, and they benefited financially by rigging the vote.
He also claims he lost out financially for losing an election he should have won, his complaint was inadequately investigated, and the chief constable failed to apologise.
He is seeking damages and interest.
Sheffield County Court heard PC Goodhill stood against Inspector Gary West for the full-time position of joint branch board secretary in January 2005.
Stephen Simblet, for the complainant, said the electorate was made up of 30 police officers - all South Yorkshire Police Federation officials.
Ballot papers were posted out and a ballot box was left at Maltby Police Station so officers could return their completed papers.
Mr Simblet said PC Goodhill was expected to win the election and a number of officers had told him they would be voting for him. But he claims the weekend before the ballot closed Insp West went to the Police Federation offices at Maltby to do some work.
"The complainant will be saying it was extremely rare for Inspector West to come in at the weekend and will be inviting your honour to infer this was not quite as straightforward as Inspector West would report it to be," Mr Simblet told the judge.
The declared result was 17 votes for Inspector West and nine for PC Goodhill.
Afterwards PC Goodhill was approached by more than nine officers who all told him they had voted for him.
In cross examination PC Goodhill accepted his election campaign had become personal against Insp West.
The case continues.
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