Gross Negligence?

[agchristie]

Forgive the pun but this is extraordinary. For someone holding an important position to be so careless is dreadful.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11112043/Alice-Gross-coroner-under-investigation-after-losing-police-file-on-train.html

[agchristie]

/// Presumably people take 'work' home with them all of the time.///

Not all employees are expressly advised by the police though are they? This is a highly sensitive matter and should never have happened irrespective of intentionality

[ladybirder]

He took it home intentionally Sher when he knew he shouldn't. This was entirely avoidable. The first thing I thought when I read the report was how upset I would be if I were this child's parent so I don't think it's low at all to say what I've said. I just feel for them, they must have thought things couldn't get any worse and now this has happened. Do you not think you might feel the same in their shoes sher?

[sherrardk]

As four of my children aren't even fourteen yet then I do think it is rather low. If the files had been about some other subject (Google - sensitive files left on trains) then people wouldn't feel such a connection. If must be awful for the parents but then the whole situation is awful and beyond comprehension and I have no idea how people get through these horrible situations. There is no suggestion that the files were read by anyone else but that they were discarded with some magazines, although that obviously doesn't make it any more bearable.

[ladybirder]

Of course they wouldn't feel such a connection if it wasn't about the murder of a young girl!
Anyway, time to get ready for bed.
Night all.

[agchristie]

/// I have no idea how people get through these horrible situations.//

Compounded by the coroner and the family are advised eight months later. Actions like this don't help.

[agchristie]

Night ladyb

[jno]

it doesn't seem to have been left on a train, he threw it into the rubbish bin, where it's much less likely to be seen by anyone.

I'm assuming that's a true account, of course; we're not exactly getting a lot of open government here.

[agchristie]

/// he threw it into the rubbish bin///

Inexplicable, why would someone in his position do that given that he defied police advice? It just doesn't make sense. Accidental or not there can be no justification.

[jno]

there's no justification, I'm just suggesting it's a common error and the parents have nothing to worry about (assuming we've heard the true story). A reprimand is called for; I don't think it's a sacking issue.

[agchristie]

/// I'm just suggesting it's a common error///

Not in the sense that coroners take files out of the office against advice!

Reprimand for sure, jno, do you think he should preside over this case?

[Canary42]

Surely not gross negligence in taking the file out of the office against police advice, but gross misconduct which is a sackable offence in most organisations.

A reprimand is hopelessly inadequate.

[agchristie]

/// A reprimand is hopelessly inadequate///

Will be interesting to see how the authorities will handle this and whether the severity is less as the material probably wasn't viewed.

I can't see the parents being happy if he is allowed to continue on the case.

[Gromit]

Only civil servants can afford to travel first class, and the result is they get very very drunk, and leave stuff on the train.

[agchristie]

/// Only civil servants can afford to travel first class, and the result is they get very very drunk, and leave stuff on the train.///

No evidence of alcohol involved here Gromit which makes it worse.
He took a risk and blundered.

[Peter Pedant]

// A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "In November 2014 the MPS was informed by HM Coroner, London West, that he had inadvertently disposed of a single document relating to the police evidence against Arnis Zalkalns.//

Gross negligence perhaps - and the regulators ( you know like the sinning Lord Sewel only he is at work so he wears a glum face ) lose their sense of humour on this. No damage so I think there is no case to answer

This week the GMC is hearing a case where the only 'charge' is that the doctor had a conversation on a train which everyone heard ! - and s/o complained because 'it could be about her M-I-L [but wasnt] and blah blah blah". case still being heard I think

oops happens all the time - I was on a train when an important Lawyer was having a barristers con on the phone and I leant towards a pakistani opposite me and said - "I am trying to work out which case he is talking about" and he said: " I am in the CPS and I am trying to work out .... "

Another time I was transfixed by a secretary not regaling us with a lurid Coronation St episode but her interview with the police concerning Dr Shipman's death that occurred in his surgery - apparently they interviewed everyone in the surgery at the time it occurred. It took me about three weeks to realise that I HAD heard the plot before but NOT on Coronation St

another time it was s/o arranging a week end consultation for a severely disturbed ( = mad, insane, foo-foo ) prisoner in Strangeways. Not really bad but really mad