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Policeman in court clash over election
A SOUTH Yorkshire police officer accused of "rigging" a union election has accused fellow officers of lying on oath in court.
Inspector Gary West made the claim at Sheffield County Court where he has been accused by PC Tom Goodhill of fixing the election for the post of joint branch board secretary of the Police Federation.
PC Goodhill claims Insp West, who was the sitting candidate and won the election by 17 votes to PC Goodhill's nine, cheated by destroying votes cast for him and substituting them with votes for himself.
PC Goodhill alleges Insp West was assisted by his colleague and friend Insp Judith Clapham, who held the only two keys for the ballot box padlock. Both deny the allegations.
Twelve serving and retired officers have told Sheffield County Court they voted for PC Goodhill to become federation secretary in the January 2005 election.
Asked by PC Goodhill's barrister Stephen Simblett how the discrepancy could be accounted for, Insp West said: "I don't believe they have told the truth."
Asked who was lying, he said: "Either they are lying or I am lying and I've come here to tell the truth."
Mr Simblett then asked if he always told the truth, to which Insp Grey replied "yes, I do."
But he later admitted forgetting to take a fingerprint from a suspect as a 19-year-old constable and putting his own print on the form instead.
Asked if he'd rigged the vote, Insp West said: "No, I did not."
Following the election PC Goodhill quizzed fellow officers and more than seven told him they'd voted for him. An internal investigation found the "obvious conclusion" was that someone had destroyed votes for PC Goodhill and substituted them with votes for Insp Grey. No disciplinary action was taken or criminal charges brought due to lack of evidence.
The court heard in the run up to the election PC Goodhill's campaign had turned personal against Insp Grey. Insp Grey said he'd found it "upsetting and hurtful".
The court also heard from Sergeant Glenn Pashley, a trustee on the sergeant's branch board, who scrutinised the election.
He said one or more of his fellow officers had lied on oath about voting for PC Goodhill but he didn't know who they were.
PC Goodhill is suing the chief constable of South Yorkshire Police. He claims he suffered ill health and lost out financially after failing to win the election.
The case continues.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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