Architect Alan Green Suspended After Driving Into Police Officer While High

Alan Green, a 45-year-old architect from Essex, has been suspended after he drove into a police officer while under the influence of drugs at the Creamfields Festival in August 2022. The incident came before a disciplinary panel this week, which ruled his actions had brought the architecture profession into disrepute.

Drug driving at Creamfields

Green, the director of A9 Architecture, attended the dance music festival in Cheshire with his adult niece and nephew. The committee heard that he went to the event to “let himself go.”

While leaving the car park, Green’s black Audi TT was seen struggling to move between other vehicles. A police officer, who was directing traffic, tried to give him space. But instead of stopping, Green drove into the officer’s leg.

The officer was not badly hurt, thanks to wearing protective motorcycle boots. Green then refused to leave his car, rolling up the windows and saying, “I’m not getting out unless you arrest me.”

Police later found bags of cocaine and ketamine in his camping gear. Green admitted to taking cannabis and cocaine about 24 to 36 hours earlier but denied using ketamine.

Court case and punishment

In March 2023, Cheshire Magistrates’ Court fined him £2,080 and banned him from driving for three years. He was found guilty of drug driving, careless driving, and possession of controlled drugs.

Green later appealed, and his ban was reduced to two years. But in February 2024, he was caught driving a friend’s car while still disqualified. He claimed he only moved the car because it was blocking his property entrance. This led to his ban being extended by three more months.

Disciplinary decision

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) said Green’s convictions were serious. The committee ruled he had shown a lack of integrity and put others at risk of harm.

“His actions exposed a police officer and passengers to danger, undermined public trust, and showed disregard for the law,” the ARB concluded.

Green told the panel he had been suffering from stress and fatigue after working more than 70 hours a week and handling over 1,900 projects. But the committee said this could not excuse his behavior.

The ARB decided that a suspension was necessary to protect the public and the reputation of the profession.