Police apologise for winning PR award after girl's death
Police have apologised to the family of 16-year-old Hayley Adamson after they won a PR award for the handling of her death.
Adamson was knocked down by a speeding patrol car in Newcastle in 2008, with the driver subsequently jailed for three years for causing death by dangerous driving.
At the time, the Northumbria Police officer was driving at 94mph in a 30 mph zone.
Northumbria Police then put itself up for, and won, a Chartered Institute for Public Relations Award last year for the handling of the case.
Sue Sim, deputy chief constable at Northumbria Police explained that following the death police officers and staff were involved in “minimising inappropriate, speculative or inaccurate reporting” and worked with the family to try and limit the impact of “constant harassment of the family by the media; and reassuring the local community”.
"This work was singled out for praise during the CIPR awards. This award was not intended in any way to minimise the impact of Hayley's death on family and friends and we are truly sorry if it has been perceived as such. Our deepest sympathies remain with them,” added Sim.