Speed ticket worker disciplined – BBC

A member of Lancashire Police staff has been given a warning after 2,115 speeding tickets had to be cancelled.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the failings in the force’s Central Processing Unit resulted in a “total shambles”.

It found that paperwork was not completed properly for speeding fines, leaving them open to challenge.

One person was given an oral warning and a second has been moved from the unit, the IPCC said.

The inquiry focused on forms which proved speeding notices had been posted to drivers.

From July 2006 to October 2007 about 60% of the certificates produced daily from the proof of postage forms were found to be missing or wrong, the IPCC found.

‘Totally unacceptable’

As a result 2,115 tickets were cancelled.

The staff member given an warning has a charge of failing to follow procedures proven against them at a disciplinary hearing and one of integrity and performance of duties was not proven.

Both charges were not proven against the other worker, but concerns raised about their capability and they were moved to a different job.

Naseem Malik, IPCC Commissioner for the North West, said: “The recognised procedures for the production of these particular forms within the Central Process Unit would appear to have descended into a total shambles and, as a result, forms which were required were either missing or incorrect. This was totally unacceptable.

“I appreciate that the workload of the Central Process Unit is huge. However that cannot be used as an excuse for a failure to follow standard procedures.”

Lancashire Police said they had an “expectation that staff deliver a totally professional service to the public, and will continue to take a strong and robust approach to improve standards within the organisation”.

A spokeswoman added: “There have been lessons learnt from this investigation.”

Source:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8114498.stm