Ex-council officer convicted of making false air quality readings

A former Waverley Borough Council officer has been convicted of making false air quality readings.

Ann-Marie Wade was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £1,500.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said she was charged with three counts under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006.

These were that she twice claimed that false air quality readings were genuine and that she made false or misleading claims for mileage payments for the purpose of replacing the diffusion tubes used.

Ms Wade pleaded guilty to the first two charges but denied the third. This will lie on her file after the Crown Prosecution Service opted not to pursue a conviction, according to the Haslemere Herald.

A Waverley statement said: “The council takes the issue of air quality extremely seriously and recognises that it is an important issue for our residents.

“That is why we acted promptly by commissioning an independent audit investigation after discovering issues with the reporting and monitoring of the council’s air quality data, and subsequently asking the police to investigate.

“We are pleased with the outcome of this case and would like to thank Surrey Police for their hard work on this investigation, and the CPS for ensuring that justice prevailed.”

The council has since the offences appointed independent contractors to carry out air quality monitoring.

Mark Smulian