Police Officer’s ‘Crash’ Remark Explained as Attempt to De-escalate Argument

A misconduct panel was informed that a Humberside Police officer, who stated to a former partner that he would “crash a car and leave her inside it,” made this remark in an effort to pacify her as she had been “kicking and screaming.” Liam Madden faces allegations of abusing his former partner and colleague during their personal relationship, which spanned from June 2019 to May 2021, and also another woman in 2022. The panel was apprised that his relationships with both women were characterized by “jealousy and insecurities on both sides,” with the initial relationship described as “unhealthy and bad.” PC Madden refutes the allegations that his conduct constituted gross misconduct. The panel has been presented with information regarding the officer’s alleged pattern of “controlling or oppressive” behaviour directed at the two women, both of whom were serving officers concurrently. During her testimony, one of the women, identified as “PC A,” stated that she perceived the officer as “attempting to control me.” Conversely, Nick Stanage, PC Madden’s barrister, asserted that his client was neither controlling, oppressive, nor abusive. He explained that the two were engaged in an argument inside a car in October 2020 when PC Madden told PC A, “I’m going to crash this car with you in it and leave you there.” Mr Stanage conveyed to the woman: “You were arguing, kicking and screaming. That’s why he made the car comment, to calm you down.” She responded, “No, that’s not fair.” Furthermore, the panel was informed that he had referred to PC A as “a slag,” though she had used the same derogatory term to describe herself in “a jovial way” during text message conversations concerning her having “kissed a few people.” Nevertheless, she informed the panel that the term had caused her distress when employed by PC Madden. In his mitigation, PC Madden’s barrister stated that his client was assuring the woman she was “not a slag.” Mr Stanage characterized PC Madden as “decent and kind” and conveyed to the hearing that “insecurities on both sides” existed, leading to the pair inspecting the contents of each other’s phones due to their interactions with other individuals. The woman conceded to the panel that she, too, experienced “jealousy” regarding his interactions with women, but affirmed that she was “not controlling.” She also refuted an accusation of assault made against him. The proceedings are ongoing.