To whom it may concern,
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the behaviour of Police Constable 190 Rourke during an interaction with two journalists on Friday 5th April at Court No1. Llanelli Magistrates Court. During this encounter, Constable Rouke made derogatory remarks towards two journalists, Dan Morgan and myself, which I find deeply concerning and unacceptable.
As we seated ourselves in the press bench, Constable Rourke lent towards us and said, "it should be you two in the dock."
Speaking to people afterwards, it quickly became apparent he had also threatened Paul Price and was dismissive of another outside the Court!
As members of the press, journalists play a vital role in our society by ensuring transparency and accountability. It is imperative that law enforcement officers treat members of the media with respect and professionalism, regardless of any personal opinions or disagreements.
The derogatory remarks made by Constable Rouke not only reflect poorly on the individual officer but also cast a negative light on the entire Dyfed-Powys police force. Such behaviour undermines trust in law enforcement and goes against the principles of impartiality and fairness.
I urge the appropriate authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter and take appropriate disciplinary action against Constable Rourke. Additionally, I request that measures be put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, like a non- public facing, and training on interacting with the media and fostering a culture of respect within the department.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that prompt action will be taken to address this issue and uphold the integrity of our police force.
Sincerely, Stan Robinson Voice of wales