Andrew Mitchell

[emmie]

to be sued by one of the police officers, doubt he will be too pleased.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25216627

[LazyGun]

This story just keeps giving and giving :)

[emmie]

seeing as he was the one who lost his job and come off far worse in this case, this must be a kick in the proverbials.

[ChillDoubt]

Apparently, reports earlier suggest that this was already in the offing (as is borne out in the link) i.e. preparation had already been made and he was going ahead with this case even before last weeks press conference and public accusation, so Mitchell was doubtless prepared for this.

As his case against The Sun will probably be heard first, I'd hazard a guess that what happens in that case will further determine what subsequently happens in this.

[LazyGun]

No question that he was stitched up at least in part - false witness statement, police association spin of the interview they had with him over the whole affair - but if he did publically name and accuse one of the Police Officers on duty at the time of lying, and by implication falsifying their contemporaneous notes then he does open himself up to the prospect of being sued, unless he can categorically offer evidence to support his assertion of lying, it seems to me.

[mikey4444]

This case can't get any more bizarre surely ? The police have lied and lied and lied, and now they are going to sue Mitchell ?

Maybe the Police really are too powerful after all. Sergeant Dixon must be revolving in his grave.

[ludwig]

Interesting. I suppose as Mitchell's effectively called him a liar, to NOT sue would be tantamount to admitting it.

I'm getting bored of it all now to be honest. I can't see anything interesting happening unless one of the police breaks ranks and starts telling a different story to the others.

[youngmafbog]

I'm bored too. but it does seem rather odd.

[FredPuli43]

A bit optimistic. Saying simply that the officer is lying wouldn't found an action. It may be that he can get an action up and running if Mitchell has said something like "The officer dare not give evidence on oath because he knows he has been lying and will not go so far as committing perjury in court or he knows that the lie will be exposed under examination" As it stands, denying the word was used amounts to saying that the officer is lying, since the word used is not likely to be a mishearing or something which later came to the officer out of nowhere; such differences of account occur all the time and with the same inference, but nobody would sue.

[Bazile]

//seeing as he was the one who lost his job and come off far worse in this case, this must be a kick in the proverbials. //

The officer says he used the word - Mitchell says the officer is lying .

This is one person's word against another - so does he expect the officer to just stay silent ?

[emmie]

this isn't just about the word though is it. And quite frankly i am with Mitchell on this one, i think that the police who lied should be held to account.

[ToraToraTora]

You can tell these are both public sector workers! never has so much fuss been made about something so irrelvant!

[bazwillrun]

Cant say I agree TTT

AM lost a pretty high profile job over it, not what I'd class as insignificant, losing any job becaues plod lied is hardly insignificant

[bazwillrun]

insert "irrelvant!" for insignificant

[joggerjayne]

Mr Mitchell should counter sue

[jno]

Dixon wasn't a sergeant, was he, mikey? Must have been promoted when my back was turned.

[Peter Pedant]

imdb has him as PC Dixon and Sgt -
so clearly he WAS promoted when jno's back was turned.

Following on Fred's point - actions which are maintained (paid for by someone else in this case the Police Fed) gain a life of themselves,

If you are paying yourself - you give up and cut your losses, but if the action in maintained, it may continue in all its hopeless splendour.

Mitchel is currently on a no win contract so his solicitors have to pick up the £1/2m costs bill so far. - they didnt post a costing in time so the High Court ruled they hav eto pay their own, whatever.

[ChillDoubt]

He certainly did make Sgt:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/17/article-2204702-0070ECC200000258-427_233x469.jpg

[Zeuhl]

It will never reach court.

Mitchell's taxi will be stopped by armed police and he will be neutralised when he leaps out holding his mobile phone or table leg or circuit tester

[emmie]

Dixon was a Police Constable for those too young to remember the programme. as to Mitchell, as i said he lost his job, if that was you or i what recourse would we have if the police collude, lie about something we said?

[mikey4444]

Zeuhl...don't give the Plods any good ideas ...please ! They are bad enough as it is.