West Yorkshire Police regret wrongful arrest of Halifax man

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-31136624

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A police force has said it regrets the wrongful arrest of a man in connection with a fraud inquiry.

Mohammed Naved Bashir, of Elland, Halifax was stopped in the town by West Yorkshire Police on 15 December and held in custody for three days.

Mr Bashir was taken to court in Glasgow before the error was realised.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom said the force was "not responsible for the error that led to his arrest", but did "very much regret" its involvement.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would ask Home Secretary Theresa May to look into Mr Bashir's case.

Mr Bashir, a chef, was first arrested when after being stopped and a search on the Police National Computer (PNC) indicated he was wanted in Glasgow.

He was arrested and taken to a cell in Halifax, before being transferred to Scotland where he appeared in court.

Following his release, Mr Bashir started legal action.

'Distressing experience'

Mr Milsom said: "Mr Bashir was an entirely innocent party and has been wrongfully arrested and detained in custody.

"However, West Yorkshire Police were not responsible for the error that led to his arrest, with our subsequent actions being conducted unaware of the error and in good faith.

"We have responded to Mr Bashir's solicitors outlining the circumstances and suggesting they may wish to raise the matter further with Police Scotland.

"Although, we may not have been responsible for Mr Bashir's distressing experience, we very much regret our involvement and a senior officer will be meeting with him personally."

Mr Bashir indicated the force's regret showed a very different attitude to the way he was treated upon his release.

"There was no apology, they just dumped me in Glasgow city centre with nowhere to go," he said.

"Luckily, I had about £6 in my pocket. I can't figure out how they got it wrong, how can someone's fingerprints get mixed up with someone else's?"

The police statement came after Conservative MP for Calder Valley Craig Whittaker alerted Mr Cameron to the case during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons earlier.