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Shaken' officer apologies for being at fault over hands-free call collision pulling out from force HQ.

ACC Kerrin Wilson: Court appearance for driving without due care and attention

Date - 9th August 2019
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

7 Comments

 

An assistant chief constable with a blameless motoring record is facing an internal ‘conduct’ investigation following a head-on crash while trying to make a hands-free phone call to her MP husband.

ACC Kerrin Wilson escaped a ban after admitting driving without due care and attention but was ordered to pay £1,460 in fines and costs at a hearing before Nottingham magistrates yesterday.

Lincolnshire Police said ACC Wilson "accepted from the outset that she was at fault in the collision".

The 51-year-old, from Heighington, County Durham, was summonsed although she did not appear in person and was represented in court by her solicitor.

 

ACC Wilson, who had previously admitted driving without due care and attention, also received seven points on her licence.

The head-on crash happened as ACC Wilson was pulling out of the force's headquarters, in Deepdale Lane, Nettleham, on December 21, last year.

Driving at about 15mph and straddling both lanes, she had been attempting to find the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel of a new car in order to call her husband, the MP for Sedgefield Phil Wilson, when the crash happened.

According to the force, ACC Wilson, who was driving a Mini Countryman, and the other female driver were both treated for minor injuries.

After the hearing, in a statement released through the force, she said: "Never having been in an accident at which I was at fault this incident has really shaken me.

"I would like to apologise to the other driver and thank the officers involved in the investigation.

"It is not easy for them to investigate a senior officer but they have done so with due diligence, respect and professionalism throughout."

She added: "If there is any message I can give to other drivers from my experience it is that we need to be fully focused on driving when we are behind the wheel, and to get familiar with any new car as quickly as possible before driving it."

Following the court case, Lincolnshire Police said: "Ms Wilson accepted from the outset that she was at fault in the collision, the summons and the penalty imposed by the court.

"As is always the case in these circumstances, an internal conduct enquiry will follow."

ACC Wilson was appointed her post with the Lincolnshire force last summer.

She was previously head of Cleveland & Durham Police Special Operations Unit, and had also served with forces in Durham, North Yorkshire and Cleveland.

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[Zulu 22 + 4,628]

I fail to see why this is newsworthy. Any officer being convicted of Driving without due care and attention would be liable to a disciplinary investigation. The full circumstances of the offence would then be considered and dealt with on its merits. So, why the fuss.

[BlueBob + 700]

Surely the fuss is that its a senior officer who has not gone of sick with stress, not whinged it wasn't their fault and has turned round to do exactly what a good egg might do.  That has to be newsworthy😀

[SgtGolden + 28]

I think you have a point about how newsworthy this is but the her rank will bring the attention to the article. It’s not everyday you hear an ACC facing an internal investigation. I remember seeing an article on the BBC to. I am still not sure if it’s newsworthy, maybe the conclusion of the investigation. 

[David + 4,981]

3 hours ago, Zulu 22 said:

I fail to see why this is newsworthy.

Because part of the role of the officers under her are paid to stop people doing exactly what this woman has done?