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PC Stephen Kerr speaks at Kent Police misconduct hearing after incident at Dover Working Men's Club

A policeman accused of failing to help a woman who was later attacked said she had shown no signs of being in danger.

PC Stephen Kerr told a misconduct tribunal that the victim had not been shouting, screaming or showing any resistance when the boyfriend she had been arguing with took her outside.

Dover Working Men's Club. Picture: Google Maps
Dover Working Men's Club. Picture: Google Maps

But it turned out she was afterwards assaulted, with her head pushed against a car windscreen.

Her partner was later jailed, a Kent Police hearing was told.

PC Kerr, giving evidence today, said: "She was not crying or screaming so it didn't give me any cause for concern.

"I didn't feel I had a reason to interfere."

The incident had happened at Dover Working Men's Club in London Road on October 23, 2019.

'I didn't feel I had a reason to interfere.'

PC Kerr, 47, is accused of breaches as a police officer such as duty and responsibility and honesty and integrity.

It is also alleged he made an inaccurate statement about the incident next day.

He denies this and all other allegations against him concerning the incident.

PC Kerr was that night off duty and playing pool with friends when it was noticed the couple were arguing.

One complaint against him was that he began to approached the couple but stopped when the man slammed a drink down on the table.

PC Stephen Kerr works for Kent Police. Picture by Matthew Walker
PC Stephen Kerr works for Kent Police. Picture by Matthew Walker

He is also accused of failing to follow the victim outside to check on her welfare and failing to call the police.

PC Kerr explained that the woman was "fairly drunk" and leaving with a drink still in her hand.

He at first walked over to prevent that happening but stopped because the man had grabbed the glass from her and put it on the table.

He explained: "I wanted him to take the drink from her. It's a police thing that if you're leaving a bar you don't take your drink."

He said he had not seen the man earlier pull the victim up from her chair because someone was blocking his view.

The hearing ends tomorrow. Picture: Martin Apps
The hearing ends tomorrow. Picture: Martin Apps

He believed the argument didn't seem any more than a tiff and and his interpretation of events were echoed by two friend with him that night.

These were Edward King, who gave evidence yesterday, and Paul Wright who also spoke at the hearing today.

PC Kerr left the club shortly after the couple left.

He explained that, even when it became clearer that there had been an assault, he did not call police because a member of public had already done it.

PC Kerr said that he went to Dover Police to write his statement about the incident next day.

He said when he submitted it nobody questioned him about it, for example saying that it had omissions.

The hearing, which is being conducted remotely by camera, is expected to conclude tomorrow with a verdict due then.

A order was given at the tribunal not to identify the woman victim.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

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