A shocking case of police misconduct in Norwich has ended with a constable being permanently banned from the profession after deliberately driving his patrol car into a cyclist.
The incident, which occurred in March 2024, began over something as minor as a thrown sandwich.
PC Frederick Boyle saw a man, referred to as Mr. M, toss a sandwich onto a grass verge.
Rather than handling the situation through standard police channels, Boyle pursued the cyclist in an unmarked vehicle, running a red light in the process, and intentionally collided with him.
The crash left the cyclist trapped under his bike, and the incident only came to light after a witness raised the alarm with Norfolk Constabulary.
Deliberate Action and Misconduct Findings
An internal disciplinary panel investigated the matter and concluded that Boyle deliberately caused the collision.
At the time, he was accompanied by PCs Kerron Tuttle and Abigail Thomas, who failed to ensure the cyclist’s welfare and neglected to report the incident.
Both officers received 18-month written warnings.
Boyle claimed the collision was accidental, a “byproduct” of trying to block Mr. M’s escape, and admitted he didn’t report it because he feared colleagues would overreact.
The panel disagreed, noting that a collision of this nature should have been seen as entirely avoidable.
In fact, the panel highlighted that using a police vehicle to intentionally strike a civilian is only justifiable in cases involving the most serious crimes—clearly not the case for littering.
Background and Past Misconduct
The hearing also revealed that Boyle had a history of risky behavior on duty.
He had previously been involved in another collision, which earned him eight penalty points on his internal police licence.
PC Tuttle described Boyle as a highly driven “thief-taker” type of officer whose proactive approach often led him to extreme measures.
The panel stressed that even if Boyle had sought authorization to intercept Mr. M, it would have been denied.
What’s Next?
Boyle’s ban is permanent, and he has been placed on a register preventing him from returning to policing in the future.
The ruling serves as a stark reminder that even minor infractions do not justify dangerous or violent actions by officers.
For PCs Tuttle and Thomas, the written warnings remain a mark on their records, emphasizing the importance of accountability in every police encounter.
Summary
A Norwich constable’s career ended after he deliberately rammed a cyclist over littering, highlighting serious misconduct and misuse of police authority.
While Boyle faces a lifetime ban, his colleagues received formal warnings for failing to act responsibly.
The case underscores the need for strict oversight and adherence to safety protocols, showing that police authority cannot justify deliberate harm to civilians—even in seemingly trivial situations.
