Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes will not be prosecuted for allegedly driving without insurance in Dartford, it was revealed today (Feb 25).

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it will not pursue the allegation following the crash in Princes Road in September last year, despite the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) suggesting an offence may have taken place.

The CPS said there was not "sufficient evidence" presented and it "would not be in the public interest" to pursue the matter. 

The IPCC also investigated an allegation Mrs Barnes had obstructed a Kent Police officer in the execution of their duty but decided there was not enough evidence to pursue it.

The IPCC referred the case to the CPS on last week (Feb 17).

A CPS spokesman said: "We were only asked to consider one occasion of driving the car in question and were not provided with sufficient evidence Mrs Barnes drove the relevant vehicle on any other relevant occasion, which would be fundamental to considering the matter in terms of alleged criminality.

“Although some further investigation might assist in determining whether there would be sufficient evidence to prosecute this matter, we are not advising any further enquiries take place as in any event we consider that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.

“The alleged breach of insurance conditions is technical in nature and focuses on whether the purpose of the trip could be defined as business or personal and we consider that to be far from clear.

“In this case the insurance company did not consider that the conditions of the insurance policy were breached so as to make any claim invalid, and has indicated it will pay the claim (although in fact the other party was deemed to be liable).”

An IPCC spokesman said: "Taking into account all the evidence obtained in the course of the IPCC's independent investigation and the account given by Ann Barnes during her criminal interview, it was the IPCC's opinion she may have committed the offence of driving without insurance on September 16 last year and on a number of occasions in the six months before.

“On that basis, a referral was made to the CPS on February 17.

“The referral to the CPS did not include an allegation Mrs Barnes obstructed a police officer in the execution of their duty when initial enquiries into the PCC's insurance cover were being made by Kent Police.

“The IPCC investigated that allegation but decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue it."

More to follow.