Police officer is cleared of racially aggravated wounding after his dog bit a traveller
A COP accused of a racially aggravated attack after his dog bit a traveller at an illegal gypsy site was cleared yesterday.
The trial jury was told to declare PC Paul Birch not guilty as there was not enough evidence to convict.
The Police Federation said: “It’s nice to see judges have some common sense.”
PC Birch, 50, was called to an abandoned golf course in Birmingham where witnesses claimed traveller Bernadette Cash had threatened to “cut their throats”.
Mrs Cash resisted arrest and husband Andrew, 37, “looked like he would elbow an officer”, the city’s crown court heard.
He needed minor treatment after the dog bit and dragged him.
The traveller couple were convicted of obstructing an officer.
PC Birch, of the West Midlands force, was prosecuted after the police watchdog found he referred to Mr Cash as “a gypo” in his rush to radio for back-up.
He denied racially and religiously aggravated wounding plus grievous bodily harm and was cleared on all counts.
The Police Federation said: “The word was inappropriate but was said well after the incident so there can’t be a link.”
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