Off With His Head - Clamper Gareth Andrews 'obstructed Queen's officers'

[borisbeaver]

Clamper Gareth Andrews 'obstructed Queen's officers'

 

A private clamper accused of immobilising royal protection officers' unmarked cars acted "belligerently", a Hampshire court heard.

 

Gareth Andrews refused to removed the clamps despite the fact PC Mark Cox showed him his warrant card.

 

Mr Andrews, 39, of Privett Road, Fareham, denies wilfully obstructing a police constable in his duty.

 

The officers were protecting the Queen as she visited Portsmouth, the city's magistrates' court heard.

 

PC Cox told the court that because of Mr Andrews's "belligerence" he had no option but to arrest him.

 

'Real officers'

The officers were both dressed in plain clothes during the operation on 25 May, having parked the cars at Gunwharf Quays marina.

 

Colin Shackel, prosecuting, told the court parking spaces allocated to the officers were temporarily being used by a delivery lorry so, after consulting security staff, they parked in adjacent spaces.

 

He said Mr Andrews had arrived and clamped the cars and refused to release them because he did not believe he was dealing with real police officers.

 

"By the time you have been shown a warrant card and security guards are involved, it would be clear to anyone that it was real officers who weren't just trying to avoid a clamping charge and had duties to perform," he said.

 

At the start of the hearing, Mr Andrews pleaded guilty to a second charge of contravening the Private Security Industry Act because he did not display an appropriate licensing badge.

 

The trial continues.

[Bazooka Boo]

I see the clown outfit on a daily basis in Gunwharf, hiding and hunting their prey, I can't wait for this industry to be outlawed.

[Zamzara]

I don't appreciate the two-faced attitude of the police very much. They are always so adamant clampers are not doign anything illegal, and I can hardly see how one can obstruct the police if the 'obstructing' act is something one is entitled to be doing.

[Old Snowy]

I see he has been found guilty and fined. Looks as though he might not be able to get his licence renewed next year. Perhaps Shoal might consider dismissing him now seeing as he has been convicted of criminal offences whilst at work.

[DBC]

If it's a clamping licence then it would become redundant ( at least for private clamping) next year when the Freedom Bill becomes law. I image he will morph into a PPC "ticket" issuer.

[Jamberson]

Mustn't jeapordise the Queen, but it's OK if they clamp the rest of us when we need our cars to go about our real lives, with jobs and kids and mortgages and the like to deal with. Talk about a two-tier society.

[Old Snowy]

Michael Eames, MD of Shoal, seemingly always happy to promptly supply press comment on matters involving his company in the past remains remarkably silent following the conviction of his staff member. It would appear someone didn't get their account straight as his original press release on the day of the incident unequivocally stated that:

 

There were no officers in the vehicles at any time during the incident and our member of staff was correctly displaying his SIA licence.

 

Seems not. Mr Andrews pleaded guilty to that offence.

[hhh_88873]

So lets get this right, two 'unmarked cars' parked in a clear place where they could be clamped.

 

So there was nothing to say the cars shouldnt be clamped, ie, being marked emergency cars, so what exactly did the clamper do wrong?

 

I have no sympathy for any of these parasites, but it seems to me that there is a definite whiff of double standards from the police actions here.

 

Ie, hang on were the police you cant clamp us!!

 

Yes I can and I have.

 

Right then you Piers Morgan youre nicked.

 

Well, thats my take on it anyway lol.

[sameagle]

I thought that he was charged with "Obstruction", not "Clamping"