Police officer denies dangerous driving while responding to terror attack

Police officer denies dangerous driving while responding to terror attack

A police officer has denied dangerous driving after a collision with three other vehicles and a residential property while responding to a terror attack

A police officer has denied dangerous driving after a collision with three other vehicles and a residential property while responding to a terror attack, a court heard.

Paul Fisher had a series of near-misses, mounted the pavement, drove on the wrong side of the road, and was travelling at speeds of up to 90mph prior the crash in Streatham, south London, on February 2 2020, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.

During the collision on Streatham Common North, the 45-year-old was said to have struck a residential property, “narrowly missing a pedestrian”.

Two of the drivers involved were also said to have lost consciousness “briefly”.

Alejandra Tascon, prosecuting, said: “The crown say that the combination of high speeds and failure to anticipate the road and road users ahead, after already having a number of close misses, fall well below the standard of a reasonably careful and competent driver.”

Standing in the dock wearing a grey suit, Fisher of Whyteleafe, Surrey, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of dangerous driving.

Fisher was released on unconditional bail to attend Isleworth Crown Court on September 19.

A judge was told how the Metropolitan Police firearms officer was driving an unmarked BMW in convoy with a marked police vehicle while responding to reports of a man stabbing members of the public at the time.

During the terror incident, Sudesh Amman, 20, was shot dead by armed undercover officers after he stole a knife from a hardware shop and began randomly stabbing members of the public while wearing a fake suicide vest in Streatham High Road.

Fisher was charged following an investigation by police regulator, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which concluded in May 2021 following a referral from the Met in February the previous year.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to take no further action against a second police driver whose marked vehicle was in close proximity when the collision occurred, according to the IOPC.

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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