Police say: 'Confess, or you don't get speeding evidence'

Speeding suspects are being told they must admit it was them before police will say how fast they are accused of going.

Speeding notices say only that a bike was photographed exceeding the speed limit. To get more information suspects are told they must first confess to being the rider at the time.

Police say the speed is then provided along with a £60 fixed penalty fine and three points.

Riders can refuse the penalty and challenge the speeding charge in court but are warned they risk more points and a bigger fine if found guilty.

Photographs issued also have details of speed removed.

Police claim the speed cannot be revealed under data protection legislation. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the government organisation which promotes access to information, has called the explanation an excuse.

An ICO spokeswoman said: “It’s one of these cases we do find happens reasonably frequently where people use data protection as an excuse.”

See Nottinghamshire Police’s explanation for the tactic here: http://www.streettactics.co.uk/ansspeedfind.htm

To find out what experts are saying is the real reason police won’t give the speed, see MCN, May 30, 2007.

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