Suspended term for 'Nemo' warden

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/derbyshire/6510457.stm

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A policeman who was watching the Disney film Finding Nemo while a prisoner hanged himself has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Pc David Stoll, 49, who was found guilty of misconduct in a public office, was jailed for six months suspended for a year.

Stoll was the custody suite warden at St Mary's Wharf police station, Derby, when Craig Boyd died in March 2004.

Judge Michael Stokes criticised the "slack" regime at the police station.

This was far from being a properly-run custody suite Judge Michael Stokes

Stoll, who had 23 years' experience in the Derbyshire force, ignored hourly checks on prisoners.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court was shown CCTV video in which officers on duty at the time of Mr Boyd's death watched the Disney cartoon.

Judge Stokes told Stoll: "You have yourself accepted that the conduct of which the jury have convicted you would be 'unforgivable' on the part of a detention officer in the position you occupied."

He added: "This was far from being a properly-run custody suite.

"What we have seen is not merely a casual approach to duty but a lack of proper systems and a failure to deal properly and responsibly with detainees.

"It is not conceivable that senior officers could have been aware of the slackness and inappropriate behaviour that existed in this custody suite."

Procedures 'improved'

Two other officers, Sgt Nigel Rogers, 42, and Sgt Christopher Linscott, 43, were acquitted.

After the case Derbyshire's Deputy Chief Constable Alan Goodwin said: "We would like to stress that this unfortunate incident occurred three years ago and in that time many procedures and practices in custody suites have been changed, improved and made more robust.

"Clearly if there are any issues raised by the judge, we will look at them from an organisational point of view to see if any further action is required.

He said the force will speak to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to determine if an internal misconduct hearing is necessary.

Duncan Davis, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation, said: "What we need to do is consider the findings in detail, take legal advice and consider how best we can approach the matter from here on."