Family of Moat victim lose claim against police

RELATIONS of the constable who killed himself after being blinded by gunman Raoul Moat expressed fury at his former employer last night, as they were given just three weeks to pay £100,000 in court costs after losing a High Court negligence claim.

Pc David Rathband’s brother and sister said his former colleagues were “cruel” and “arrogant” after they were told they faced a legal bill that could exceed £200,000.

Their case, which was started by the officer before he committed suicide, claimed Northumbria Police should have issued an immediate warning to those on patrol after Moat called 999 and threatened he was “hunting for officers”.

Less than nine minutes after the call Pc Rathband was alone and defenceless on a roundabout above the A1 in Newcastle when Moat shot him twice in the face.

However, Mr Justice Males dismissed the claim that the police were negligent, saying it was “well established law” that the police did not owe the public or officers a “private law duty of care” when making operational decisions.