Grampian Police hunt bogus police officer

DETECTIVES are hunting a driver who posed as a police officer to stop a young mother as she drove with her baby son along a main trunk road in Aberdeenshire.

• The bogus police officer told the driver to hand over her vehicle because it had been stolen

• The man being sought was driving a black car, similar to a Ford Focus

• Grampian Police are treating the incident “very seriously.”

The 24 year-old woman was pulled over by a car with blue flashing lights, driven by the bogus police officer, on Monday morning on the A90 Peterhead to Aberdeen road on the outskirts of the village of Boddam.

He told the driver to hand over her vehicle because it had been stolen. But the female motorist refused to get out of her car after she had pulled into a layby and drove away.

The man being sought by Grampian Police was driving a black car, similar to a Ford Focus.

Detective Sergeant Davie Crowther, who is heading the investigation, said it was an incident which the force was treating “very seriously.”

He said: “We can confirm that we have received a report from a woman driver, regarding her stopping in response to what appeared to be an unmarked police car.”

He continued: “Our enquiries are ongoing, and we take reports of this kind seriously, which is why we have issued an appeal to the public for their assistance in identifying the vehicle involved. “We believe that other members of the public would have witnessed this incident, due to the time of the incident, as it is likely that the road would have been busy with morning commuters.”

Det Sgt Crowther continued: “The man involved is described as being between 35 to 40 years old, 6ft tall, stocky build, unshaven with short dark hair and he was wearing all black clothing and boots at the time.

“I would urge anyone was travelling along the A90 road at around 9.45am and may have seen a black hatchback, similar to a Ford Focus, driving erratically to contact us, as any information, however insignificant it may seem, could prove important to our investigation.”

He added: “Impersonating a police officer could have potentially serious consequences, which is a criminal offence. That is why we take the rare occasions where this does happen very seriously.”

Det Sgt Crowther stressed: “I would like to reassure the public that these types of incidents are rare in the Grampian area. This appears to be an isolated case and there have been no further reports at this time.

“If you ever are stopped by an officer and you have any concerns as to their identity, I would urge that you request they show their warrant card. If you are still in any doubt you can contact our service centre on 101, where there identity can be furthered clarified by checking their shoulder number.”