Hampshire police fined for unidentified speeder

A dishonest Hampshire copper whose patrol car tripped a speed camera at 48mph in a 30 limit, forced the appearance of his boss in court yesterday.

The failure of the driver to come forward, and take the points and fine, meant that Ian Readhead, the force’s Deputy Chief Constable, had to confess to Aldershot magistrates that despite a four-month investigation to trace the driver, no-one was prepared to admit to the offence.

Mr. Readhead told the court: ” I appear before you with some considerable embarrassment. We try to make sure our officers are accountable to the law. Unfortunately the individual has chosen not to come forward. ”

The unmarked Ford Fiesta was caught on the A27, near Fareham, Hampshire. The car had been allocated to CID officers at Fratton Police station in Portsmouth, but as the keys weren’t secured, in theory, any of 100 officers could have been driving the car

Hampshire Police were fined £500 by the court after admitting the offence.