A serving police officer from the Midlands has admitted causing the death of an elderly pedestrian after driving through a red traffic light while responding to an incident. Steven Allcock, a 33-year-old police constable with Nottinghamshire Police, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court.
Tragic Collision Details Emerge in Court
The court heard how Allcock was driving a police van along the A52 Derby Road in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on December 19, 2023, when the fatal collision occurred. The vehicle struck 80-year-old Trevor Bartlett, a retired newspaper photographer for the Nottingham Post, who had been using a pedestrian crossing for approximately seven seconds while the traffic light showed red.
Mitigating Circumstances Presented During Hearing
Prosecutor Elizabeth Reid explained that while Allcock was a trained response driver entitled to exceed speed limits and pass through red lights under certain circumstances, he failed to meet the required standards on this occasion. The officer was travelling between 25 and 28 miles per hour in a bus lane with blue lights and sirens activated at the time of the incident.
District Judge Jonathan Taaffe acknowledged that Allcock had been "trying to do the public good" when the tragedy unfolded. The court heard that a detainee in the back of the police van had been "kicking off" and self-harming, creating a challenging situation for the officer behind the wheel.
Independent Investigation Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. IOPC director Emily Barry stated that while their inquiry identified some mitigating factors, including the detainee's behaviour, they concluded that Allcock "could and should have reasonably foreseen the risk of harm to members of the public."
Barry emphasised that the officer should have amended his driving style to mitigate potential risks when approaching the red traffic light. The IOPC has determined that Allcock has a case to answer for gross misconduct relating to his driving both before and after the collision, with proceedings to follow his sentencing.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the hearing, Allcock stood before the dock wearing a navy suit and blue tie as he entered his guilty plea. The defendant, who resides in Toton, Nottinghamshire, was granted unconditional bail and received an interim driving ban pending his sentencing scheduled for February 12.
Judge Taaffe reflected on the profound impact of the incident, stating: "I have the unfortunate family of Mr Bartlett, and Mr Bartlett who has lost his life through no fault of his own. Clearly, there have to be consequences for the act that caused that to happen." The judge added that there were "no winners in this situation" as both the victim's family and the officer faced life-altering consequences.
Professional Standards Under Scrutiny
The case has raised important questions about police driving standards and the balance between responding to emergencies and ensuring public safety. While trained response drivers like Allcock have special permissions under certain circumstances, prosecutors argued he failed to treat the red light as a stop or give way signal and did not ensure the crossing was clear before proceeding.
The IOPC extended their sympathies to Mr Bartlett's family and all those affected by what they described as "tragic circumstances." The organisation confirmed they would work with Nottinghamshire Police to address the gross misconduct aspects of the case following Allcock's sentencing next month.
