In this article we tell you about Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership Staff Jailed for Deleting Speeding Offences of their friends.

Two former camera operators for the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership have been sentenced today (21 December) for conspiring to delete speeding offences, allowing individuals to avoid fines or prosecution. The case follows an investigation led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and carried out by Staffordshire Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit.

Samantha Halden-Evans, 36, from Cheadle, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison at Stafford Crown Court after admitting to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office (MIPO). She also pleaded guilty to willfully neglecting her duties, two counts of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, and misconduct in office.

Jonathan Hill, 47, from Newcastle, who had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit MIPO, was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Two members of the public, one of whom was in a relationship with Halden-Evans, admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at hearings in October. One received a sentence of two years and eight months, while the other was sentenced to ten months.

The investigation revealed that between May 2019 and October 2020, Halden-Evans and Hill conspired to commit MIPO while working for the safer roads partnership. They failed to process speeding data, allowing individuals, many of whom were personally known to Halden-Evans or Hill, to avoid penalties. Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership Staff Jailed for Deleting Speeding Offences of their friends.

Further charges against Halden-Evans included accessing and disclosing police data without authorization on multiple occasions between August 2017 and February 2021.

The conspiracy was uncovered in 2020 during a burglary investigation in Cheshire, when police examined a mobile phone and discovered messages linked to Halden-Evans. She was arrested in February 2021, and a subsequent search of her phone revealed evidence that she had been deleting offence records to prevent speeding penalties for certain individuals.

Hill was arrested in April 2021, with evidence showing that he had asked Halden-Evans to check number plates to see if drivers had been caught speeding. Halden-Evans also provided information about the status of speed cameras in Staffordshire and shared other sensitive data, including details related to a murder investigation.

Halden-Evans resigned from Staffordshire Police in August 2021 before a disciplinary hearing, and Hill was dismissed after a hearing in December 2021.

Steve Noonan, IOPC Director of Operations, said: “The offences committed by these individuals were a serious breach of trust. Beyond deleting speeding offences, Hill was requesting Halden-Evans to check if specific drivers had been caught speeding and to share details about the operational status of speed cameras. These actions, along with data breaches including one related to a murder investigation, are a clear betrayal of the public’s trust and erode confidence in policing.”

Noonan emphasized the importance of the investigation, which resulted in justice being served. The IOPC’s directed investigation, which followed referrals from Staffordshire Police in 2021, concluded with a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, leading to the charges.

Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership Staff Jailed for Deleting Speeding Offences of their friends. By Staffs Speed Cams.

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Two former camera operators for the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership have been sentenced today (21 December) for conspiring to delete speeding offences, allowing individuals to escape fines or prosecution. This follows an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and conducted by Staffordshire Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit.

Samantha Halden-Evans, 36, from Cheadle, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison at Stafford Crown Court after admitting to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office (MIPO). She also pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting her duties, two charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, and misconduct in office.

Jonathan Hill, 47, from Newcastle, who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit MIPO, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Two members of the public, one of whom was in a relationship with Halden-Evans, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at hearings in October. One received a sentence of two years and eight months, while the other was sentenced to ten months.

The investigation revealed that between May 2019 and October 2020, Halden-Evans and Hill worked together to commit MIPO while employed by the safer roads partnership. They deliberately failed to process speeding data, enabling individuals, many of whom were personally known to them, to avoid penalties.

Additional charges against Halden-Evans included accessing and disclosing police data without authorization on several occasions between August 2017 and February 2021.

The conspiracy was uncovered in 2020 during a burglary investigation in Cheshire, when detectives examined a mobile phone and found messages linked to Halden-Evans. She was arrested in February 2021, and a search of her phone revealed evidence that she had been deleting offence records, allowing individuals to avoid speeding fines.

Hill was arrested in April 2021, and evidence showed he had asked Halden-Evans to check number plates to determine if drivers had been caught speeding at specific locations. Halden-Evans also shared information about whether speed cameras in Staffordshire were operational, and provided other sensitive data, including information related to a murder investigation.

Halden-Evans resigned from Staffordshire Police in August 2021 before a disciplinary hearing, while Hill was dismissed following a hearing in December 2021.

Steve Noonan, IOPC Director of Operations, stated: “The actions of these individuals were a severe breach of public trust. In addition to deleting speeding offences, Hill was asking Halden-Evans to check if certain drivers had been caught speeding and to provide details about active speed cameras. Their behaviour, which also involved data breaches in a murder investigation, is a betrayal of the public’s trust and damages confidence in policing.”

Noonan commended the investigation’s efforts, which ultimately ensured justice was served. The IOPC directed the investigation following referrals from Staffordshire Police in 2021. The investigation was later referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorized the charges.