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Police officer had 'no case to answer' over death of driver after police pursuit.

'It was humiliating for my family and me' PC Folwell Credit: PA

A police constable cleared of any wrongdoing over the death of a man in a crash following a police chase has described the 18-month Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation as "humiliating".

Luke Campbell, 24, died after the car he was driving collided with a Mini and then a CCTV stand in Stretford in the early hours of February 21 last year.

He was being pursued by a marked police vehicle prior to the crash and the case was referred to the IPCC.

But Pc Simon Folwell, who has had restrictions on his duties since the incident, was told he had "no case to answer" at a gross misconduct hearing last week.

"People assume you have done something wrong," he said.

"It's like you are guilty until proven innocent.

In April, an IPCC spokeswoman said the investigator believed there was evidence that the driver of the police car had a case to answer for gross misconduct in relation to his actions prior to and during the pursuit.

IPCC Associate Commissioner Guido Liguori directed a gross misconduct hearing to take place after Greater Manchester Police disagreed with the watchdog's finding.

It's a job I love doing but I have had to take time off with stress through it all. It just all got too much.

To be frank it was humiliating for me and my family.

– PC Simon Folwell
Officers have to make swift decisions about cars being driven dangerously or illegally - Deputy Chief Constable Credit: PA

Police officers are often met with difficult situations, and police pursuits are among the most challenging operational situations they face.

"Officers often have to make informed, swift, decisions on whether or not to engage with cars that are being driven dangerously or illegally in the safest way possible.

"I would like to offer my condolences to Mr Campbell's family and friends."

– Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling

It is absolutely beyond belief that this officer was put through this process for simply doing his job. Pc Folwell acted quite properly and the panel recognised that in finding that there was no case for him to even answer.

I really believe that the time has come for the public to be made aware of the scandalous incompetence of the IPCC and the fact that enormous sums of public money are being wasted on investigations that have no merit.

The IPCC urgently need to have a long hard look at themselves because whoever is responsible for this most recent example of wasting tens of thousands of pounds of public money needs now holding to account them

– Ian Hanson, Greater Manchester Police Federation chairman