Northamptonshire Police fined £50k for withholding body-cam footage
The court labelled the actions ‘wilfully disobedient’ after force failed to comply.
Northamptonshire Police has been issued a £50,000 fine after being found in contempt of court for failing to release body-worn footage of a woman’s arrest.
Nadine Buzzard-Quashie was taken into custody by three officers on 2nd September 2021, facing charges which were quickly dropped.
Following her arrest, Ms Buzzard-Quashie requested the release of body-cam footage, claiming she had been physically assaulted by officers during the arrest. She alleged that she was thrown to the ground and had her face pushed into stinging nettles.
When the footage was not handed over, Ms Buzzard-Quashie filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office, which ordered its release. She later pursued legal action against Northamptonshire Police after remaining unable to access the full recordings.
Last week, Court of Appeal judges stated that the force had been "wilfully disobedient" in failing to comply with orders to provide the recordings.
During a sanction hearing on Thursday, Lord Justice Fraser announced the £50,000 fine, which will come from Northamptonshire Police’s budget, citing the “gravity of the situation.”
The judges stated that body-cam footage provided at the last minute "entirely vindicates" Ms Buzzard-Quashie’s claims.
Lord Justice Fraser also noted that at least one officer had viewed footage they later claimed did not exist.
Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, in post since October 2023, attended the hearing and apologised directly to Ms Buzzard-Quashie, who became emotional as he spoke.
He said: “First of all, I would like to say a heartfelt apology to Ms Buzzard-Quashie.
“The failure of my force in this case has been appalling, and I am speechless as to the numerous errors and the hurt and impact.
“I am truly sorry, and it is my responsibility to make sure this never happens again.
“We have also referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to make sure it is fully investigated.”
The judges praised Ms Buzzard-Quashie’s "tenacity and resilience" in pursuing the case despite the personal, emotional, and financial cost.
The court confirmed that the Chief Constable was held liable in his official capacity for the failings of those acting on his behalf.
Lord Justice Fraser stated it would be "exceptional and unusual" for a Chief Constable to face imprisonment for contempt of court, which carries a potential sentence of up to two years for individuals.