PC Tufael Ishaque was given a final written warning
A police officer has escaped with a final warning after he parked in a disabled spot with a blue badge which wasn’t his. On August 3 last year a parking officer in Lambeth noticed a car parked with a blue badge which had been cancelled three months earlier due to the death of the holder.
The vehicle it was in belonged to PC Tufael Ishaque, and the badge holder had been his dad. Lambeth Borough Council launched an investigation and following a full admission PC Ishaque was cautioned by the council.
Earlier this month (August 11, 2022) a Metropolitan Police misconduct panel met to consider the offence. The panel heard that PC Ishaque reported what had happened to his line management in accordance with requirements and expressed remorse for his actions throughout.
“I have placed weight on the harm done to the reputation of the MPS if these circumstances were known about. Such behaviour would harm the public’s confidence in and the reputation of the MPS, because the public will see that a police officer, who should be complying with the law did not do so and has accepted a council caution for two offences (misuse of blue badge and fraud),” assistant commissioner Amanda Pearson said.
She noted the exceptional circumstances surrounding the offence, as PC Ishaque had suffered the difficult loss of several close family members. AC Pearson said: “I consider that what I have learned of PC Ishaque’s family situation may well have affected his ability to cope, causing a brief lapse in judgement in relation to use of the disabled badge, rather than a predisposition to dishonesty.”
She decided to hand PC Ishaque a final written warning, lasting for two years.
AC Pearson added: “Although an officer that has admitted offences does undermine public confidence in the MPS I do think that members of the public who knew the wider circumstances for this case would understand why I have made my decision today. I believe PC Ishaque will learn from his experience and therefore the purposes of upholding high standards and protecting the public will be achieved.”