Two police officers have appeared in court charged in connection with a crash in Weymouth that injured themselves and four other people - including two young children.

PC Derek Alexander, 52, and PC Harry Chaplin, 26, appeared via video link at Poole Magistrates’ Court today where they both entered no pleas to driving charges.

Alexander made no plea to a charge of dangerous driving whilst Chaplin made no plea to a charge of causing serious injury by driving.

The charges relate to a crash on Saturday, July 9 of last year when a marked police car and a bronze Honda Civic were involved in a collision on Littlemoor Road, in Weymouth.

The ambulance service, along with the air ambulance and fire service, attended the scene.

As reported, the road was closed for nearly 12 hours to allow for accident investigators to examine the scene before it was reopened just after 9.30am on Sunday, July 10.

The occupants of the Honda, a man and woman aged in their 30s and two young children aged 18 months old and three years old, were assessed at the scene before being taken to Dorset County Hospital. 

Alexander and Chaplin, who were travelling in separate vehicles, were also taken to Dorset County Hospital.

Prosecutors argued for the case to be dealt with at Crown Court  - saying the magistrates lacked sufficient authority - and the officers’ defence counsel made no objections but requested dashcam footage to be served prior to their next court appearance.

After hearing representations, District Judge Nick Wattam said: “I have looked at the guidelines and I have listened to the case summary and I believe it ought to be dealt with at Crown (Court).”

PC Alexander and PC Chaplin were both placed on unconditional bail - to appear before Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, February 16 for a case management hearing.