Misconduct hearing opens later today for special constable convicted of assault

A misconduct hearing will open later today (Thursday 12th January, 2023) at Greater Manchester Police HQ concerning a long-serving special constable, Andrew Parkinson.

The hearing is to be held in public although the force has provided scant details of its substance, so far.

SC Parkinson was convicted at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court last summer of assaulting a seven-year-old boy after the officer was accidentally sprayed with water by children playing outside.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he was returning home when he “took umbrage” and “targeted a child” in Bolton on 7th May, 2021,

The trial heard the victim had been playing with other children and they had been throwing water at each other. A small amount accidentally landed on the officer as he was returning home and he decided to confront the victim. Bolton-based Parkinson, 55, told the court he had acted in self-defence.

Defence counsel, Ben Berkson, submitted that Parkinson, who was described as a ‘devout Christian’, deeply regretted the incident and wanted to compensate the boy’s family. The lawyer added that Parkinson realised he was very likely to be stripped of his role as a special constable, a position he had held for 35 years. He was suspended by GMP after the incident.

“Being a special constable was a role he was very grateful for and proud of – and it is one which he is now going to have to accept will probably be taken from him.”

Despite being found guilty, SC Parkinson told probation officers a few weeks before the sentencing hearing in August, 2022 that even though he was convicted of the assault he didn’t think what he did was wrong.

Page last updated Thursday 12th January, 2023 at 0955hrs

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