Only 6 out of 101 speeding police drivers prosecuted

icWales
Sep. 27, 2005

THERE were 101 police who fell foul of their own speed cameras in 12 months - but only six were prosecuted.

The rest were able to convince their commanders that they had a valid reason for breaking the limit, according to a response under the Freedom of Information Act by North Wales Police.

This is the force whose chief constable is controversial Richard Brunstrom, so-called "king of the cameras" and the Acpo spokesman on road policing. The same response says that in the year to the end of July nearly 65,000 drivers were caught by the "Arrive Alive" scheme, which would have collected in £3.9m in fines.

The question was asked how many police vehicles not answering emergency calls nor showing blue lights were caught in the year to the end of March.

Answering, North Wales Police said 101 employees were sent notices of intended prosecution for exceeding the speed limit in police vehicles. In dealing with them "a very robust and transparent approach" was adopted.

It was considered whether speed was necessary for specific duties to be carried out, as laid down by the law.

Reasons would include attending emergencies, gaining on a vehicle ahead in order to stop it, "and a multitude of operational reasons".

The reply adds, "It does not state within these regulations that police vehicles have to use their blue lights when exceeding the speed limit.

"Blue lights are used to warn other road users of the police vehicle's presence when traffic conditions require it, but these can hinder operations such as attending burglaries in progress at night when the lights can be seen from a long distance."