A former Derbyshire Constabulary officer is set to appear in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following a fatal collision that took place in Etwall in 2021.
Michael Cooper, 54, a former Detective Chief Inspector, will appear before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 10 April. He faces two serious charges under the Road Traffic Act 1988:
- Causing death by dangerous driving (Section 1)
- Causing serious injury by dangerous driving (Section 2B)
The charges stem from a road traffic collision on Egginton Road in Etwall, Derbyshire, which occurred at around noon on 28 September 2021.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the incident after receiving a mandatory referral from Derbyshire Constabulary. Following the conclusion of their inquiry, the IOPC submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which later authorised the charges.
An IOPC spokesperson confirmed:
“We carried out a thorough investigation into the incident following standard procedure after a mandatory referral. The evidence was assessed independently, and the CPS has now authorised charges.”
No further details about the collision or those affected have been released at this stage.
This latest development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of police conduct nationally, particularly in cases involving road traffic incidents and the duty of care owed by current and former officers.
The case is expected to proceed at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, where Cooper will formally respond to the charges.
The IOPC continues to oversee serious complaints involving police forces across England and Wales. Updates on this case will follow as proceedings unfold.
