THE States police has said it is “committed” to ensuring all members of the force “uphold the highest standards of conduct and responsibility” after an officer was banned from the roads for three months after crashing a police van into a taxi.
Christine Da Silva Gouveia displayed a “disregard for the safety of the public” during the incident, the Magistrate’s Court heard last week.
Gouveia drove the van at 24mph along New Street and Union Street when she ran into the back of a taxi at 10.30pm on 14 December 2023.
Both vehicles were damaged but no one was injured.
Gouveia had not alerted other road users by sounding her siren and did not turn on her blue emergency light until very late, so it had “no practical effect”, the court was told.
The prosecution also said her account of the incident had been “bizarre, evasive and unreliable”.
Gouveia – a serving police officer for almost five years – pleaded guilty to careless driving, but denied the more serious charge of dangerous driving.
She was convicted following a trial in the Magistrate’s Court. Gouveia was given a £3,000 fine and banned from driving for three months on Friday, and was also ordered to pay £800 in costs.
Following the sentencing, a police spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the court’s decision.
“We respect the judicial process and are committed to ensuring that all members of our force uphold the highest standards of conduct and responsibility.”
