Police officer charged after fare dodger knocked down by van

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A British Transport Police officer was today charged with knocking over a fare dodger with a police van.

Pc Shaun David Lee, 39, was charged with dangerous driving after an investigation by BTP's professional standards division managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The officer, who is based in Merseyside, was on evening duty with colleagues on Thursday 1 April at Bootle New Strand station.

They stopped a 25-year-old man on suspicion of not having a ticket.

An argument began and the suspect ran off.

An officer followed him on foot, while Lee and another officer pursued in a marked police van.

The chase continued along Hornby Road where the police van was in collision with the man, knocking him to the ground.

Paramedics were called and the man was treated at hospital for leg injuries.

Today, an IPCC spokesman said Lee would appear at Ormskirk Magistrates' Court on Friday 19 November.

A second officer who was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the investigation will face no criminal action.