Lincolnshire Officer Faces Misconduct Hearing After Assault Acquittal

URGENT UPDATE: A Lincolnshire police officer, PC Alan Kirkwood, is set to face a misconduct hearing following allegations of assault against a bystander. This development comes after he was acquitted of assault charges in a Nottingham Crown Court trial earlier this year.

In a shocking incident on January 3, 2023, PC Kirkwood allegedly kicked Scott Barratt in the face while pursuing a robbery suspect in Lincoln. During the chase, Kirkwood mistook Barratt, who was simply walking his dogs, for one of the fleeing criminals. The officer reportedly fell to the ground in the scuffle before confronting Barratt with a Taser, ordering him to get on the ground, and then allegedly kicking him.

Prosecutors highlighted during the trial that PC Kirkwood quickly recognized his mistake and later apologized to Barratt. The jury took just a short time to clear him of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with Judge James Sampson praising him as “a man of exemplary character.”

However, the situation took a turn when Barratt appealed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which reviewed the case and instructed Lincolnshire Police to pursue misconduct charges. A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police confirmed, “Following a review by the IOPC concerning PC Kirkwood, we can confirm we have accepted their recommendations that there was a case to answer. Arrangements are in hand for a hearing to take place.”

There is currently no date set for the misconduct hearing, but this latest development raises significant questions about police accountability and the treatment of civilians. Iain Gould, Barratt’s solicitor and an expert in police misconduct cases, emphasized the importance of self-regulation within police forces.

As this story unfolds, the implications for PC Kirkwood’s career and the community’s trust in law enforcement hang in the balance. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.