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Police Defend Let-Off for Speeding Officers
A police force has defended its decision not to prosecute the drivers of 59 of its own marked cars caught speeding by roadside cameras.
It has emerged that the Derbyshire Police vehicles were sent notices of intended prosecution in 2004, after they were photographed speeding but apparently not showing an emergency blue light.
The officers’ own divisional commanders and the head of the force’s criminal justice department examined the incidents the cars were attending and decided none of them should be prosecuted.
Safety groups have criticised the decision as “one law for them, one law for us”.
But Superintendent Royston Smith, head of Derbyshire Police’s criminal justice section, said: “In every case, the officer requires the support of their respective divisional commander or member of the command team and a decision is made by the head of criminal justice.
“Every case is thoroughly examined and in all these 59 instances it has been accepted the vehicle was being used for operational policing purposes in circumstances where it was necessary for the speed limit to be exceeded in the course of their duties.
“It’s recognised at times there is a requirement for officers to drive at excessive speeds to provide a timely response to emergency situations to protect the public.”
Mr Smith said that in at least 14 of the 59 incidents, flashing lights used by the vehicles in question had not been picked up by the camera, and it has since been satisfied they were displaying their blue lights.
He added: “Additionally, there is no requirement in law for a police vehicle to display or sound its blues and twos when responding to an incident. It is only necessary to act as an alert to other road users.
“On other occasions, it is a recognised tactic that a police vehicle will approach the scene of an incident without its blues and twos on so as to not alert possible offenders who may be involved in a crime.”
The force said it had recently carried out “a thorough review” of driving standards and it had introduced new procedures to ensure there is ongoing assessment of driving standards within the force.
However, road safety organisations have been critical of the police’s decision not to prosecute.
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “At the very least, they should have been using emergency lights and sirens.”
The road safety charity Brake said the decision “smacked of double standards”.
Derek Storer of road accident charity RoadPeace told the Derby Evening Telegraph: “It’s disgusting that they were all let off. It seems to be one law for them and one law for us.”
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!][!][!][!]LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, vacuum in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, there goes another engine!
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