A city councillor says she has been through hell after police charged her with racism.

Jo Calvert-Mindell, 51, a former police officer, was speaking after prosecutors dropped the charge against her.

Cllr Calvert-Mindell was charged in April – six months after she had tried to get police to arrest students she said were misbehaving in Long Meadow Way, Canterbury.

She said: “I felt totally humiliated. I am a vulnerable, disabled woman who was recovering from a car accident when the police arrested me.”

The allegation of racism revolved around a comment to two students, who were British Asian.

Cllr Calvert-Mindell, a Liberal Democrat who represents St Stephen’s, was taken to Canterbury police station, where DNA, fingerprints and a statement under caution were taken from her.

The CPS formally withdrew the charge last week, and Cllr Calvert-Mindell says she is relieved, but still feels sick when she relives her ordeal.

Supt Chris Hogben, from Canterbury police, said: “An allegation was made that was fully investigated by officers.”

Assistant district crown prosecutor Carol Chastney said: “The CPS keeps each case under continuous review, and we decided to discontinue the proceedings against the defendant as there is no longer sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.”

~For full story see this week’s Kentish Gazette