Judge attacks British police force for looking after their own

A judge yesterday launched an extraordinary attack on a police force after a super­intendent caught driving at 79mph in a 50mph zone was let off by a junior colleague.

Helen Chamberlain was trapped by a speed gun, but was told by the PC who pulled her over that she would not be prosecuted. She was allowed to leave the scene after accepting a verbal warning, but was later charged with speeding after the traffic officer told his inspector and the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the case.

Superintendent Chamberlain, 43, pleaded guilty on the day her trial was due to start. She had originally denied the offence, arguing that the speed gun used by her Nottinghamshire force colleague was not accurate.

Sentencing her to six penalty points on her licence with £1,500 to pay in fines and costs, District Judge Tim Devas criticised her constabulary for resolving ‘serious offences’ through reprimands.

He told Nottingham magistrates: ‘The police have certain powers regarding criminal offences to make decisions regarding whether or not to prosecute, or issue a ­caution or reprimand. ‘In the year I have been in Nottingham I have been extremely alarmed by the amount of cases where officers took it upon themselves to issue cautions or deal with cases in the way this officer did.’

He said it was a 'judicial matter to deal with people who have committed serious criminal offences' and a 'matter of discretion' for the police.

And he added: ‘I hope (this case) will at least leave a message that will cascade down through all ­levels of the force that they do not make decisions like this. It was ­completely wrong and I hope they have been re-educated.’

The judge said he was sure the constable must have been under some pressure ‘with regard to who the defendant was’. He said: ‘If it was 59mph in a 30mph zone, can you imagine in any of your wildest dreams that any of us would get off? ‘The public might think it was because of who Mrs Chamberlain was, and that does not reflect very well on Notts Constabulary.’

Superintendent Chamberlain was pulled over after a radar gun clocked her Audi at 79mph on the 50mph A6097 between Epperstone and Oxton in July last year.

Brian Gunn, prosecuting, said she apologised and claimed she ‘didn’t realise’ how fast she was driving. The superintendent, from Harworth, Nottinghamshire, said she thought the limit was 60mph.

Under official guidelines, those caught speeding in a 50mph zone should be given a fixed ­penalty notice at 57mph or above, or a ­summons at 76mph or above.

Judge Devas agreed not to ban the officer after accepting that it would cause her ‘hardship’ due to the amount of driving she does. Superintendent Chamberlain was fined £710 and ordered to pay £800 costs. She left court without commenting.

Nottinghamshire police said it was assessing whether internal disciplinary action was ‘appropriate’.

Original report here




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