Are the Police allowed to speed?

[up4it]

I was stopped, pulled over and taken down the station by the police .... the basics of the story is here ... http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question490 882.html

Whilst giving me a lift back to my car (after I was released without charge) the copper started off doing 45-50mph in a 30mph limit

Now he wasn't on a call or anything, he was just taking me back to my car, are the police allowed to speed?

I was always under the impression that if the police are on a call or they are going to pull someone over then they are allowed to break the speed limit but if they are just pottering from A to B with no emergency involved then they must stick to the speed limit like anyone else.

I mentioned this at the time (as he was driving along) and he said that he didnt have to explain himself to me but he was an advanced driver and he was allowed to speed whenever he wanted (even if he wasnt on call) - funnily enough he did slow down to 30 - 35mph for the rest of the trip

How does the law stand on this?
- If he was lying do I have any options to persue this?

[Reverandfunk]

Did u get his number?

From your previous post this bloke needs reporting.

[redcrx]

report it to his officer in charge.

But make sure it doesnt look like you are doing it because youre narked at being pulled over and breathalised.

[Reverandfunk]

Bet he'd be quick to respond to a serious incident.

Not.

[up4it]

Yes I got his number ...


My opinion after the whole affair ...
"Incompetence knows no bounds"

BTW - when he dropped me off he said that he is still referring the original offence of 'driving without due care and attention' (basically I overtook a car at approx 1.00am with nothing else on the road) - I say bring it on as he hasnt a leg to stand on.

The whole affair took 3 police cars (before they got a breathalizer that worked) and about 6 officers time and wasted about 2 hours of my sleeping time !!!

[DavidexpatNI]

Hi,
I imagine the police are liable to the same road traffic regulations as the Fire Service of which I am a serving officer. Fire Service vehicles are not allowed to speed to any incident, although they are expected to get to an incident quickly and safely. We may treat a 'stop' sign or a red light as a 'give way' and proceed if it is safe to do so. I was involved in a traffic accident when the appliance I was a passenger in, went through a red light and was struck by a car. The Fire Service driver was interviewed by police but released without charge. Basically it is at the discretion of the driver. If a driver exceeds the speed limit and subsequently has an accident his licence is at risk and he could face prosecution, but generally the police turn a bllind eye to fire appliances breaking the speed limit legitimately going to a call and using blue lights and audible warning sirens.

[Loosehead]

The law is quite clear, the police are not allowed to speed unless on a call. You can report him but they'll just stick together. As for the due care rap, plod often try and bully you with that, just make it clear you will plead not guilty and they'll drop it as they know it won't stick and they'll have to make a case and go to court.

[Reverandfunk]

I had an incident last year where my car had been broken into next to a police station in Brum city centre. Sat afternoon and it was shut! A van pulled out of the car park so I knocked on its window, the policeman in the passenger seat looked at me and then they drove off. I tried to take it further but its like banging yr head against a brick wall.

I know the police do a hard job but sometimes they arew their own worst enemies.

[Yorkie580]

It's not quite as clear as "being on a call" - there are exemptions to the spped limit when the vehicle is being driven by a properly trained driver for a police purpose where it can be justified.

[up4it]

Yorkie
"where it can be justified" ?

I would guess that probably doesn't include at 2.30am where there is nothing else on the road and no emergency call for him to go to afterwards???

After he drove me back to my car he sat there for another 15mins giving me a lecture so its not like he was in a rush or anything

Where can him speeding be justified in that?

[Yorkie580]

Umm... I was just clarifying what had been written earlier, not commenting on the rights and wrongs of any particular situation. I won't bother next time. Apologies for wasting your time!

[up4it]

Sorry Yorkie I didnt mean for it to sound like I was having a go at you. I dont know what the law is around this so thats why I was asking/clarifying.

Thanks for your opinion

[THECORBYLOON]

You are wrong to name the PC involved so I have reported it.

[mrs_overall]

Yes, he's broken the law and you can report it but at the end of the day it will be your word against his and I'd put money on which of you his superiors would believe.
Also, if you did put in a complaint I bet you would find that when you are out in your car you would be stopped and checked on a very regular basis.

[up4it]

CORBYLOON - I cannot edit posts on here so I cant remove it, I was asked a question so I answered it

Mrs_overall - I'd call that victimisation lol

BTW - what got me is that he didnt really mention the overtaking I did until after all the tests and then he said he was persuing it, when he stopped me he didn't give a reason his first comments were "Have I pulled you over before?" - surely he has to give a reason!

[THECORBYLOON]

The question was "Did you get his number?" to which you could have answered "Yes." You should not have ANY more details than that. You would not put your name and personal details on here if asked to do so, would you?

[Drisgirl]

O bloody go for it -whats him the Chief Constable of somewhere on the news last night -preaching (quite rightly) about the dangers and the ripple effect of speeding and then lo and behold he has just been done for 90 in a 60 -whilst coming back from an off duty personal trip.

Aww Pot kettle and aww that.

I have seen enough polis in my life breaking the law and getting away with it with a flash of the warrant card -its like the Masons.

Yip report him -i'll be a witness for you........well its not unheard of.

[perigra]

the police should be subject to scrutiny. the information isn't secret, he would have been wearing his number in plain sight. it's public information!

[THECORBYLOON]

perigra and Drisgirl, imagine yous were out getting messages at Asda or Tesco where the staff wear name badges. If one of them did something wrong, would you expect to see them named and shamed? I doubt it.

What we have here is one side of an incident and comments which could libel the PC involved.

[Drisgirl]

O agree wiith you about the naming bit TCL -without a doubt.

[Paul22118]

up4it - you were captured and presumably didn't like it.
Do not use these pages to rubbish anyone, police, fire, ambulance, anyone with name badge - if you have a beef use the proper channels and complain. Independent investigators etc etc.
Personally I feel aggrieved that you were taking this officers time in patrolling MY street because he was chauffering you around!
Get a life.