Police Officer Fined After On-Duty Collision in Ammanford

A Dyfed-Powys Police officer has been penalised after admitting to careless driving in an on-duty incident last September. 🚓

Pc Phil Thomas received 6 penalty points on his driving licence and was ordered to pay a £275 fine plus £110 surcharge within 28 days after pleading guilty at Swansea Crown Court.

The officer was originally facing a more serious charge of dangerous driving, which he denied. However, he admitted to careless driving, a plea accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The court heard that PC Thomas was driving a marked police vehicle following a speeding car when he veered into the opposite carriageway. He collided with an oncoming vehicle before hitting a lamppost. The other driver sustained minor lacerations and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Superintendent Phil Rowe, Head of Professional Standards Department, stated: “PC Thomas is a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included following and attempting to stop vehicles with the blue lights illuminated, but his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances. It is only proper that he has been held to account for his actions.”

Since the incident, PC Thomas has been removed from frontline duties and is currently subject to a gross misconduct investigation by the Professional Standards Department. The Appropriate Authority will determine whether there is a case to answer in due course.