PC instructed me to lie over arrest report, claims officer

By ASHLIE MCANALLY
Published on 24/07/2012 00:00

A PROBATIONARY police officer was given an instruction by a more experienced colleague to lie on a report about a man who had been arrested, a court in Glasgow has heard.

PC Jemma Irvine said she felt “uncomfortable and intimidated” when PC Andrew Law told her to submit information she knew was untrue about Lin Kun Xing, whom they had seen while on patrol in February 2010. Mr Xing was charged with selling tobacco illegally and of breaking conditions of his visa by doing so.

PC Irvine, 27, said she did not see the man do anything except walk past her, but claimed she was instructed by PC Law, 42, to submit a report saying they had both seen him exchanging tobacco for money outside a pub.

PC Irvine was giving evidence at PC Law’s trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He is charged with ­perverting the course of justice by unlawfully arresting Mr Xing, charging him and causing PC Irvine to submit a report with information he knew to be false to prosecutors who raised criminal proceedings against him. Mr Xing was then convicted and sentenced to a prison term.

PC Law also faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by unlawfully arresting Ronald Clifford, taking £1,400 from his jacket and of causing 
PC Gavin Miller to send false information to prosecutors. PC Law denies the charges.

Proceeds of crime proceedings were raised against Mr Clifford and his money seized, because it was claimed he acted in a suspicious manner when a marked police car drove past him and he attempted to conceal the cash. It is alleged there was no such car and Mr Clifford was not acting suspiciously.

PC Irvine told the court she worked in the robbery unit at Glasgow’s London Road police office and on 9 February, 2010 she was working with PC Law.

The trial continues.