Police issue pulpit apology to wrongly-accused mum (From This Is Local London)

Croydon mother receives police apology in her church

7:40am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Bizarre

A mother wrongfully arrested for assault has received an apology from police from the pulpit.

Alison Richardson and her husband Clive, from Croydon, were issued the public apology while attending Greenwich Seventh-Day Adventist Church by Detective Sergeant Nick Westwood.

DS Westwood, of the force's directorate of professional standards, admitted Mrs Richardson’s arrest in 2008 at her home was incorrect and apologised for the distress it caused.

He said: “Because Alison and Clive are so deeply part of this church we decided to come to the church today in front of the congregation and make a formal apology on behalf on the police.”

The 43-year-old was detained at her home after calling police to stop bailiffs wrongfully clamping the family car.

A woman officer subsequently claimed she had been punched in the face by Mrs Richardson during the incident in 2008.

Mrs Richardson appealed against her sentence of 150 hours community service, of which she has completed more than 90, and was exonerated by a judge.

Speaking outside the church following the apology, Mr Richardson said: “In 2008 we were in a devastating situation. We however found that the church has been so supportive, unbelievable.

“From the outset we knew we had done nothing wrong so we wanted to see this done when the police would come to acknowledge that they done was wrong. In terms of forgiveness, we have already forgiven them.”