Haulier wins damages after police tacho raid
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by David Craik • Harrogate-based haulier Manton Transport has been awarded more than £15,000 in damages against North Yorkshire Police after a raid on its premises in 1996 was condemned by a judge as "negligent and malicious". Judge Lightfoot at Leeds County Court said police acting under the supervision of traffic constable Dave Foster had "deliberately gone to Manton to exceed the limits of the search warrant which was limited to tachograph charts". During the raid police took all documents relating to the haulage operation covering a four-month period, he added.
Solicitors Ford & Warren, appearing for Manton, say Judge Lightfoot also found that the police had lied to the court by saying Manton had "volunteered a large number of documents which they had taken away".
Lightfoot believed the evidence of Manton staff who said they had been intimidated by the raid.
TC Foster does not wish to discuss the nature of the civil case brought against North Yorkshire Police by Manton Transport.
However, he has told CM that the result of this casehas led to the adjournment of a case at Harrogate magistrates court which was scheduled for Monday 9 November where Manton drivers were scheduled to be interviewed over drivers' hours.
"We don't know when this case will now be held," says Foster.