Tragic teen's parents force change in way police work

Sam Beasley, 14, from Corrie, Arran, died from chest injuries after being hit from behind by a car in July 2003 as he returned home from his summer job.

Sam's parents Alan and Joyce Beasley were angered that driver Catherine Munro, who was found guilty of careless driving, was only fined 500 and had six penalty points on her licence when she appeared in court in October 2004.

However, their fight for a change in police procedures will ensure better treatment for families in remote areas suffering similar tragedies.

The Beasleys criticised Strathclyde Police over its handling of the incident and its aftermath.

Of the 20 complaints made, Commissioner John McNeill concluded 14 were dealt with reasonably while six were not.

The key failing upheld by the commissioner was allowing the driver and her car to leave the scene shortly after the incident.

The other five complaints upheld were – not fully closing the road after the incident, leaving a wheelie bin at the scene exposed, failing to place the vehicle involved under cover, failure to trace other witnesses and failure to use appeal boards.

Last night Mr Beasley, 57, said he was pleased the commissioner had upheld a number of his complaints and that the tragedy had led to improved training of police in rural areas.

But he said issues over the "integrity" of individual officers involved in the case remained.

"We are also concerned that despite Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland recommending in 2006 that Strathclyde Police review its policy on the interviewing of suspect drivers in fatal collisions, the force has still not reached a final decision," he said.

In his report Mr McNeill, recognises that as a direct result of the Beasley's complaints, Strathclyde Police has initiated training for all officers attending such incidents in rural areas.

Although Strathclyde Police has accepted individual failings in how the incident was handled, the Commissioner's report argues that, given the lack of guidance available to attending officers at the relevant time, these failings could also be regarded as "organisational" and not confined to any individual officer.

Mr McNeill said: "I hope that my review will answer some of the questions which the parents have over the initial incident and the manner in which Strathclyde Police investigated their complaints.

"I also hope that they will see that they have brought about real and positive changes in how the police now handle this type of incident.

"The only way to make real progress and increase public confidence in the police is when we reach a situation where the police complaints handling system is one that reflects a learning culture rather than a blame one.

"This is an area that the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Scottish Government are looking at through the Police Advisory Board for Scotland's Technical Working Group. I have made my views known to them and intend to continue to be pro-active on this subject."