MET POLICE NOTCH UP MORE THAN 2,500 TRAFFIC OFFENCES IN 5 MONTH

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Jun 2005

New figures revealed today by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that in the first five months of 2005, Met Police officers racked up more than 2,500 traffic offences while on patrol.

The figures, revealed in Mayoral answers to the Liberal Democrats, show that between January - May 2005, 2,514 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for traffic offences were issued against officers in the Met.

The highest number of offences committed were:-

· Illegal parking - 1,052

· Driving in bus lanes - 900

· Speeding - 444

There were also seven officers issued with FPNs for careless driving and one for reckless driving. In 2004 there were 3,994 FPNs issued to police, but the Met have been unable to provide a breakdown of the reasons for their issuing.

London Assembly Liberal Democrat policing spokesperson, Graham Tope, said:

"The police are not above the law. It is completely unacceptable for officers to be violating the Highway Code without reasonable excuse, and then hope to get away with it. It is right that those who do are fined like everybody else.

"These violations shouldn't be happening in the first place. Londoners expect their officers to set an example to other motorists on London's roads.

"A 'do as I say and not as I do' approach will only lead to a loss of faith in the Met."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Traffic violations by MPS officers

Question No: 927 / 2005

Lynne Featherstone

What is the policy of the MPS, and what guidance exists, on officers committing minor traffic violations in MPS vehicles whilst on routine patrol (e.g. by parking on double yellow lines in order to get some refreshments)? Please provide statistics on the total number of any such incidents, for each of the last 4 calendar years.

I have been informed by the MPS that as soon as an officer becomes aware that they have committed a minor traffic violation they must make a report of the offence and justify why they have not complied with the relevant legislation.

If the driver cannot do this to the satisfaction of their Borough Commander, then the driver will be responsible for the payment of any resulting fine and incurrence of any penalty points on their DVLA licence. The report must be endorsed by an officer of at least the rank of Superintendent.

Below are figures for numbers of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) issues between Jan - May 2005. During 2004, 3994 FPN's were issued. There are no figures available for offences committed prior to 2004.

Number of Offences Offence

900 Bus Lane

7 Careless driving

25 Entering a pedestrian zone

43 Failure to stop ATS

32 Left in stopping box

1052 Parking in a restricted area

6 Stopping on a pedestrian crossing

1 Reckless Driving

4 Red Route

444 Speeding

2514 Total