The corrupt speed camera operators who deleted records to let their friends get off fines
Two camera operators have been jailed after it was revealed they deleted records of speeding offences to let their mates off. Samantha Halden-Evans, 36, and Jonathan Hill, 47, were investigated while both worked for Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership. The pair were found to have worked together to commit misconduct in public office between May 2019 and October 2020.
Stafford Crown Court heard how the pair failed to process data and deleted information with the intent of letting drivers avoid speed penalties. Halden-Even was also found to have passed details about whether certain speed cameras were working.
Halden-Evans, from Cheadle[3], was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
After pleading guilty to the charges, she was jailed for four years and two months on Thursday, December 21. Meanwhile, Hill, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was jailed for 18 months after admitting misconduct in public office in January 2023. Two others have also been jailed after they admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Wayne Riley, 41, from Cheadle, who was in a relationship with Halden-Evans. was sentenced to two years and eight months. Nikki Baker, 35, from Werrington, Staffs, was sentenced to 10 months.
Jonathan Hill, 47 (Image: Staffordshire Police / SWNS)
The conspiracy came to light following a burglary in Cheshire in 2020. Detectives investigated mobile phones and found messages that traced back to Halden-Evans.
She was arrested in February 2021 and a mobile phone was seized from her. It was found that Halden-Evans was deleting offence details so that people, many of whom she or Hill knew, would avoid speeding penalties. Hill was arrested in April 2021 and he was found to have asked Halden-Evans to check number plates to see if the drivers had been caught speeding at specific locations.
Halden-Evans resigned from Staffordshire Police in August 2021 prior to a disciplinary hearing and Hill was dismissed from the force following a hearing in December 2021.
Samantha Halden-Evans, 36 (Image: Staffordshire Police / SWNS)
IOPC Director of Operations, Steve Noonan, said: “The offences committed by these two individuals amounted to very serious corruption In addition to the deletion of speeding offences, evidence showed that Hill was asking Halden-Evans to check whether people had been caught by cameras speeding on certain roads. “She was also passing on details about whether speed cameras in Staffordshire were active or not, and there were other data breaches including one relating to a murder investigation. “Such behaviour is a betrayal of the public’s trust and undermines confidence in policing.
This investigation is testament to how seriously the IOPC, law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system takes this kind of behaviour and I am grateful to all those involved in ensuring justice was served today.”
Wayne Riley, 41 (Image: Staffordshire Police / SWNS)
Deputy Chief Constable Jon Roy, of Staffordshire Police, said: “The vast majority of our officers and staff conduct themselves professionally and work tirelessly to protect the public. “We expect the highest levels of honesty and integrity from all of our officers and staff and anyone who falls below these standards will be held to account.” Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: “It is absolutely vital that the public can have confidence in everyone engaged in police activity, and in the activity of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership.
Keeping our roads safe for the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is too important to be undermined by the actions of a few individuals.
“Whether those individuals are officers or staff makes no difference.
Everyone within the organisation should be held to the very highest standards, and I welcome today’s outcome.”
References
- ^ ‘You had some knowledge of what was to happen… you called your son and your son took steps of retribution’ (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Manhunt underway after group ‘targeted’ in terrifying shooting before suspect flees scene in car (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Cheadle (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)