Woman Traumatized After Fake Police Officer Orders Her to Stop on M1

 

A woman, known as "Lisa," has spoken out about her terrifying experience with a man posing as a police officer on the M1 motorway in Leicestershire. The incident occurred in March 2023, and despite reporting it to the authorities, no criminal investigation has been conducted, and the man has not been spoken to face-to-face by police.

Lisa was driving northbound on the M1 when a lone male driver in an unmarked car crossed in front of her and began waving a small black wallet with a police crest badge out of the window. Believing him to be a police officer, Lisa thought she was being pulled over for speeding. However, she felt uneasy and decided not to stop, fearing a repeat of the Wayne Couzens case, in which a police officer used his warrant card to falsely arrest and murder Sarah Everard.

The fake officer became aggressive, shouting at Lisa to pull over while driving parallel to her. She was shaken and frightened, gripping the steering wheel tightly. When she didn't stop, the man suddenly slowed down and turned off the motorway.

Lisa reported the incident to the police as soon as she could, but the response was botched. Northamptonshire Police initially treated it as a complaint against a police officer rather than a crime, and it took months for Leicestershire Police to log it as an alleged crime of impersonating a police officer. By the time they did, the six-month limit for prosecuting the offence had almost expired, and the CCTV footage had been deleted.

Both Northamptonshire and Leicestershire Police have apologized for their poor response, acknowledging that Lisa was given a "poor service" and left feeling distressed. However, the man was only contacted by phone and denied the allegations, and no face-to-face interview was conducted.

Lisa is still traumatized by the experience and feels let down by the police response. She believes the man was a "fake policeman who wanted to do her harm" and dreads to think what could have happened if she had stopped. Her story has resonated with other women, who have said they would have stopped if they had been in her position.

The incident highlights the importance of proper police procedures and communication between forces. It also raises concerns about the use of fake police IDs and the potential risks to the public. Lisa's experience serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and caution when dealing with individuals claiming to be police officers.