Less than one per cent of police officers who were caught speeding have been punished, it has been revealed.
Only a small handful have been prosecuted for speeding or jumping red lights, even though tens of thousands of officers have been noted for breaking the law by committing a motoring offence.
The Freedom of Information Act released figures which showed that only 753 out of 75,434 officers spotted by road-side cameras in the last two-and-a-half years were prosecuted.
These figures have led to accusations, claiming that police officers are routinely let off without proper checks, while ordinary drivers automatically face a £60 fine and three penalty points, never being let off.
Road safety charities said the high number of fines cancelled was ‘worrying’ – and it is feared that senior officers are not carrying out proper checks before letting police off, which could be a big problem in the future as the number of officers being let off will rise.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: ‘These figures paint a worrying picture. We recognise that in emergency situations, especially where lives are at stake, police need to be able to respond rapidly, but this must be weighed up against the danger posed to the public – especially people on foot and bicycle – from speeding.
‘We believe police and other emergency services should be doing everything possible to ensure their drivers are not putting people at risk of injury or death, and to help put a stop to the scores of serious casualties that involve emergency service vehicles each year.
In Leicestershire, police were clocked speeding 5,738 times over the two-and-a-half year period – but just three were prosecuted, which works out as one officer in every 1,912.
Police forces are able to cancel tickets given to officers as long as speeding is necessary because they are responding to a 999 call or pursuing a suspect.
But this should be seen as a more serious matter when officers are caught speeding without reason.
