Two lazy police officers have been reprimanded by force bosses for parking their patrol car in a disabled bay at a supermarket – while they went shopping.
The 4×4 was spotted by disabled shopper David Horner, 62, pulled in the bay at a Tesco store in Congelton, Cheshire on January 18.
But when he challenged the officers inside the store he was stunned to be told they didn’t realise it was a disabled bay because of the snow – despite there being a large wheelchair sign erected in front of it.
Feeling intimidated by their abrupt response David emailed a picture of the parked car to Cheshire Police to complain about their behaviour at the store.
But the force informed him the vehicle could not be traced.
It was only when he phoned the force’s professional standards department the officers were eventually found and spoken to about their actions.
David, 62, from Congleton, a retired health and safety officer, said yesterday (Wed): “I was incensed when I saw this police car had driven into the parking bay.
“It was snowing so you couldn’t quite see the lines on the ground, but there was a big sign.
“I approached the police officer in Tesco and asked if he realised he had parked in a disabled person’s space.
“He responded that it was snowing and he couldn’t see the lines.
“He was quite intimidating. If it was on a public highway it would have been a road traffic offence.
“I could not believe they could not identify the vehicle.
“Then I had another phone call from a DCI who was very apologetic and adamant I should not have been told that, and the officers had been identified.
“The whole thing was pretty shoddy.”
A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed the officers had been reprimanded for their actions.
He said: “The professional standards department has conducted inquiries to establish the driver of the vehicle.
“The officers concerned have been given words of advice regarding their choice of parking space and the manner in which they spoke to the member of public who had pointed out they were in a disabled parking bay.
“Cheshire Police expects the highest standards from their officers and staff at all times. On this occasion, the officers’ conduct and decision making fell short of what is expected.”
A Tesco spokesman added: “We have to rely on our customers to be thoughtful.
“If the store is alerted that someone has wrongly parked in a disabled bay, we would normally put an announcement out to ask the owner to move it, or go outside and speak to the person involved.”
