Police boss wants answers after officer’s road rage case is dismissed
ADETECTIVE accused of a road rage attack had her case dismissed after prosecutors said it would cause ‘professional embarrassment’ to pursue it.
Detective Constable Anna Meakin, 36, of Wallbrook Avenue, Macclesfield, was accused of spitting at Tarik Saleem, 32, and scratching him during a rush hour confrontation.
The incident followed a verbal altercation and collision on March 17. It is understood both drivers raced off to Wilmslow police station where they reported each other.
Ms Meakin, who serves with Greater Manchester Police, was later charged with driving her Vauxhall Astra without due care and attention and assault by beating, which she denied.
But at Stockport Magistrates’ Court the trial collapsed when a representative from the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew from prosecuting the GMP officer claiming it would cause ‘professional embarrassment’.
In the legal profession ‘professional embarrassment’ is a recognised term used by solicitors when they feel there is a conflict of interest which prevents them from continuing with a case. Both Ms Meakin and Mr Saleem, of Moor Lane, Wilmslow, who also faced identical charges in respect of driving his Audi A8 without due care and attention and an alleged assault on Ms Meakin, walked free from court.
It is understood the incident started at 8.45am on the A538 in Wilmslow heading towards the A34 when the pair had a verbal altercation. The two cars met again later on the A34 at Alderley Edge when there was a collision.
It is understood there was a physical confrontation where Ms Meakin is alleged to have spat and scratched Mr Saleem. Both then drove to the police station where they reported each other.
Ms Meakin appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on September 23 where she pleaded not guilty to both offences and a trial date was set.
But the case was thrown into chaos when the solicitor from the CPS said Greater Manchester prosecutors should not prosecute a GMP officer claiming it would cause ‘professional embarrassment’, and that the case should have remained in Cheshire, rather than move to a Greater Manchester court.
Magistrates rejected an application by the CPS to adjourn the case and asked for a replacement prosecutor to attend. But after an adjournment, the prosecutor said there would be no replacement and withdrew from the case.
Defence counsel for both Ms Meakin and Mr Saleem then successfully applied to magistrates to have the case dismissed and their costs paid by the CPS.
A CPS spokesman said: “The matter was listed for trial at Stockport Magistrates Court. On reviewing the case in preparation for the trial the next day the prosecutor realised the case involved a serving police officer from the locality that she prosecutes in. Endeavouring to ensure that justice was seen to be delivered independently, she asked the court to adjourn the case so that the trial could be prosecuted by another prosecutor.
“However, the court did not allow the adjournment so the prosecutor withdrew from the case as it was not possible to identify another prosecutor who could deal with the matter. The court dismissed the case. We will now review the decision of the court.”
Ms Meakin has been on restricted duties since the incident.
Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “In fairness to both defendants there can’t be any criticism of them as they are innocent until proven guilty and have left court without stains on their character. But big questions have to be answered, how this farce was allowed to take place between the Crown Prosecution Service and court.
“What a waste of public money and this isn’t justice being done. The public are entitled to answers on it.”