The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 214 Lowestoft Fire Station Open Day

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7th June 1999

On attending work 09.00 hours at Lowestoft Sub Officer found a hand written message at his desk informing him to contact DO Graham Smith at BHQ.

The purpose seemed to be that DO Smith wished to clarify and confirmation the postponement of Firefighter Hyde’s prosecution hearing on 7th June 1999.

DO Smith went on to mention he had received the defence case file and was concerned at its depth and time implications on the eventual hearing. DO Smith suggested that case file was grossly disproportionate to charge against Firefighter Hyde and should be rationalised. He stated ‘this case should only take a couple of hours.’

In reply Sub Officer Wigglesworth said ‘We have repeatedly asked for particulars and you have refused. It’s your fault that the case file is so thick.’

DO Smith replied that he had no responsibility for such matters and the administration of the case was down to ACFO Seager.

Discussion then went on to what DO Smith had done with the case file.

He said it was in his desk in front of him.

Sub Officer W then retorted with the question, ‘do you share your office with DO Ludford?’

DO Smith said ‘yes’ and asked ‘what was the relevance of the question?’

Sub Officer W then said ‘he’s the presiding officer of the case that’s what the problem is.’

DO Smith said he didn’t see any problem and expressed that such a comment was a slur on his and Do Ludfords integrity.

Sub Officer Wigglesworth then asked DO Smith if he shown the case file to anybody?

‘ Only those with a right to know the contents’ was the answer.

Who?

DO Smith refused to say.

Discussion then went on to recent developments leading on from Suffolk FBU secretary Chris Hayward’s disciplinary complaint 24th May 1999 (192). It was common knowledge that ACFO Seager was making a half-hearted investigation on the reported matters. In particular, DO Smith was officially representing DO Hodge in resisting the complaint. Therefore, he was apparently acting as prosecutor and defence in issues that overlapped into the Firefighter Hyde case.

Sub Officer Wigglesworth stated ‘your position is blatantly one of a conflict of interest and an abuse of privilege.’

DO Smith was having none of this and became extremely irritated. In heated words he returned to the issue that he felt his reputation and integrity was being slurred by Sub Officer Wigglesworth.

With that the conversation ended abruptly.