Speeding Policeman

[Kevin Wood]

QUOTE

But when cyclist Daniel Cadden appeared before him last week, he threw the book at the 25-year-old software engineer for riding in the road instead of using a special path set aside for cyclists.

Probably because the cycle path didn't go anywhere useful and was put there by the local council to make themselves eligible for some daft government grant.

I have a hobby that requires me to sometimes drive a pickup truck with a mile of steel cable trailiing behind it. Do I go and "hone my skills" on the M54 at night? Of course not. If I did, and I (rightly) got done for dangerous driving would they let me off because I'd "suffered enough"?

Of course Police drivers have to use high speeds when responding to urgent calls. Doing so always results in increased risk to the public and themselves over and above the risk associated with driving at the speed limit like the rest of us do ;-). (We're all told that speed kills, right?) I guess that risk can be balanced against the consequences of a slower response time in a genuine emergency. How can it be excused for the purposes of "familiarising oneself with a new car"? Why don't they book a track day when they just want to P*ss about just like the rest of us do?

Kevin

Kevin

[KenE]

Hope you don't mind somebody form the dark side chipping in.......

My view's summarised in this letter I wrote to the local paper today.

So PC Milton has been found guilty of dangerous driving, albeit thankfully discharged.

Sadly his persecution by campaigners and a few members of the public is a backlash on the police resulting from the misguided speed kills campaign promoted mostly by the Safety Camera Partnerships to justify their commercial activities.  When people are being penalised for minor infringements whilst driving safely then there is bound to be a feeling of why should there be two sets of rules.

Senior police officers had viewed the video; they stood up in court and said his driving was not dangerous. That's good enough for me.

However the blinkered attitude of people who condemn PC Milton has only one inevitable, dangerous outcome.  Crooks, child abductors and paedophiles can now make their escape down the M54 having practiced driving at 159mph at night without fear of being pursued by a de-skilled and fearful police force.

[detailer]

Its one rule for them and another for joe public.  Remember that when Mr plod is writing you out a speeding ticket in wales for doing 31 in a 30 zone making you out to be worse than a serial killer.

Shame those real criminals aren't being caught

[spence]

Hope you don't mind somebody form the dark side chipping in.......

My view's summarised in this letter I wrote to the local paper today.

So PC Milton has been found guilty of dangerous driving, albeit thankfully discharged.

Sadly his persecution by campaigners and a few members of the public is a backlash on the police resulting from the misguided speed kills campaign promoted mostly by the Safety Camera Partnerships to justify their commercial activities.  When people are being penalised for minor infringements whilst driving safely then there is bound to be a feeling of why should there be two sets of rules.

Senior police officers had viewed the video; they stood up in court and said his driving was not dangerous. That's good enough for me.

However the blinkered attitude of people who condemn PC Milton has only one inevitable, dangerous outcome.  Crooks, child abductors and paedophiles can now make their escape down the M54 having practiced driving at 159mph at night without fear of being pursued by a de-skilled and fearful police force.

I'm sorry to disagree mate.

I have no problem with police practising they skills which we should all agree is a necessity. However this should be carried out in a controlled training program.

NOT and i mean NOT on a whim when some copper decides he wants to give a car a canning because he is bored early in the morning. Then come out with the excuse he's testing a car. I'm sorry but I've been around to long to swallow that excuse. That belongs in the play ground for the under 12's to tell the dinner ladies.

I Know plenty of police and not one of them disagrees with me. He is a disgrace and his contempt for the general public and the law showed, when he stood at the doors to the court on TV.

One rule for them and another rule for us.Just like every other copper who speeds and gets away with it. You will be amazed of the amount of things like this that the general public don't get to hear about.

IMHO that is

[ljsanders]

Having been in a police car (on a demonstration drive)

at 130mph on the M27 in conditions less than ideal (drizzel) and the traffic was fairly busy, I can honest say that I felt totally safe and impressed by the standard of driving

demonstrated by the copper that took me out for the demo.

He even was doing a running commentary whilst driving.

(hazards, what he/she is thinking etc..)

This was 10 years ago in an Vauxhall Senator, let alone a modern day car.

The average member of the joe public at 130+mph wouldn't have the skill or hazard awareness at that kind of speed, let alone talk about it whilst driving.

This guy has been picked on by the media and made an example of just because they can and because the media have done this and have b******* all else to print, it has contributed to a public outcry. Simply because other people are getting nicked at 85mph, but what the media are not pointing out is that joe public don't have half the hazard awareness our skilled police force have.

Sorry, but PC Milton has my total support.

If someone in an RS6 or some other kind of high performance vehicle has just robbed a bank, I'd want a copper with the skills like Pc Milton after the scum.

What a total waste of tax payers money and the police have lost a damn fine copper because of it.

[Boomy]

I think you underestimate many members of the public and their driving ability.

Plenty would be able to give you commentary as they drive along, hundreds and thousands of them every single day do this in their heads and never ever crash.

All weathers, all traffic levels and at all times of the day or night at various speeds.

Yet those same members of the public can creep a fraction over a 60 mph limit just once during a 10 mile stretch of road and SPECS cameras will throw the book at them, even if the road is totaly empty.

It's no wonder they are angry at the events surrounding this case.

Plus i thought they tried to avoid ultra high speed chases that may involve RS4's full of bank robbers and simply called in the helicopters?.

In fact, what about all those rally drivers banned from driving and fined for daring to travel at up to 54 mph in a 30 zone during the Welsh rally stages?.

The fact they could do things in a car that many officers could only dream of did little to save them, yet the speeds were probably no different to what many parents may have done on their way to drop kids off at school!.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3257523.stm

[steve_m]

I have no problem with police practising they skills which we should all agree is a necessity. However this should be carried out in a controlled training program.

NOT and i mean NOT on a whim when some copper decides he wants to give a car a canning because he is bored early in the morning. Then come out with the excuse he's testing a car. I'm sorry but I've been around to long to swallow that excuse. That belongs in the play ground for the under 12's to tell the dinner ladies.

I Know plenty of police and not one of them disagrees with me. He is a disgrace and his contempt for the general public and the law showed, when he stood at the doors to the court on TV.

Well summed up !  

[steve_m]

Sadly his persecution by campaigners and a few members of the public is a backlash on the police resulting from the misguided speed kills campaign promoted mostly by the Safety Camera Partnerships to justify their commercial activities.  When people are being penalised for minor infringements whilst driving safely then there is bound to be a feeling of why should there be two sets of rules.

For sure that's true but lets not forget that he did something like 90 odd mph in a 30 limit and there's been no suggestion that it was a dual carriageway - 90 in a 30 when there is no necessity is simply stupid and it brings his judgement into question.

[Arm]

QUOTE

Having been in a police car (on a demonstration drive)

at 130mph on the M27 in conditions less than ideal (drizzel) and the traffic was fairly busy, I can honest say that I felt totally safe and impressed by the standard of driving demonstrated by the copper that took me out for the demo. He even was doing a running commentary whilst driving.

(hazards, what he/she is thinking etc..)

This was 10 years ago in an Vauxhall Senator, let alone a modern day car.

I have experienced the same and it was impressive. However it need not have been demonstrated on the public highway.

I got fined for picking up the phone whilst driving (I agree I shouldn't) however I then got lectured on how I was 4 times more likely to have an accident whilst using a mobile phone. "Was I driving dangerously I asked" No was the answer . For the next 15 minutes I was lectured to and accused of having no insurance (which I did and they did not apologise for) and all the time we were sat on the hard shoulder just 500 yds from a motorway exit. Therefore 100 times more likely to have an accident.

I should have been doing 159 mph whilst using the phone !

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

He was also doing something like 60mph in a 30mph area. Allowing, for a moment, that 'practising his skills' or 'evaluating a new vehicle' might go some way to mitigating circumstances for the 150+mph on the empty M54, will someone please explain what he was practising by doing such speeds in a built-up area?

But the Police Federation defended the driving of Pc Milton, who is also known to have travelled at 120mph in a 60mph zone and at more than 60mph in a 30mph zone.

Edited to say that I was researching my comment on the 30mph zone and missed Steve_M's comment.  

[nikpro]

One rule for them and another rule for us.Just like every other copper who speeds and gets away with it. You will be amazed of the amount of things like this that the general public don't get to hear about.

IMHO that is

You would be more amazed at the thousands of members of the public that 'get off' with offences at court but never hear about it yet the press has highlighted this case!

As a matter of interest - how many people on this boardroom were actually present at the hearing?

I take it you are relying on what the press has chosen to report of the case as your informed decision?

Not so many months ago there was a post on here with a member asking of ways to avoid a speeding fine. The same people that are now shouting 'lock him up and throw away the key' were offering advice to this member on how he could avoid the ticket - why do you think the member should be able to get away with it and yet the officer should be hung drawn and quartered?

This one rule for one and one rule for another is bo**ox.

The legal process involves the following -

His senior Officers (POLICE) would have reccomended he be sent to Court - the paperwork is then sent to the DPP who would have also reccomended a court appearance.

He has been to Court and found Guilty(quite right to IMO)...the sentencing has NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE POLICE.

The Police have wanted his prosecution yet certain people still blame the Police ; should they not have taken it to Court?

Further to the last the training for Advanced police drivers often involves travelling on Motorways at speeds in excess of 140mph...when there is traffic on the roads; there is no where this can be practised apart from the real world unless your council tax is increased significantly and a very expensive simulator is purchased by each force. Either that or the Police do not pursue anyone.

The instructor will asses a pupils ability at the end of each of the 6 weeks and if he passes he goes to the next week where again the speeds are increased.

As for catching real criminals the Police actually detect more serious crime now (as a percentage) then they ever have done despite the workload of each individual officer increasing by over 1000% in the last ten years -  so that arguement is also a load of Cr*p.

[spence]

Further to the last the training for Advanced police drivers often involves travelling on Motorways at speeds in excess of 140mph...when there is traffic on the roads; there is no where this can be practised apart from the real world unless your council tax is increased significantly and a very expensive simulator is purchased by each force. Either that or the Police do not pursue anyone.

The instructor will asses a pupils ability at the end of each of the 6 weeks and if he passes he goes to the next week where again the speeds are increased.

Exactly my point.

These are controlled conditions with an instructor and more importantly PERMISSION to carry out these speeds. Where was his PERMISSION? Friends of mine have done this course and regularly have to travel at these high speeds in the course of their work.

Had he been given PERMISSION then this case would never had been taken to court in the first place, by his senior officers, who quite rightly recommended he be sent to court.

I would say that people are disillusioned with the whole speeding camera thing because drivers are an easy target to TAX and pick on. If they spent more time on dangerous driving, than jumping out of a hidden bush on a country lane, people may give the authority's more respect.

[Boomy]

I have a question relating to this:

In a statement read out in court, he said: "I was advised to familiarise myself with vehicles, so when there was a need to respond at speed you were aware of its performance."

Wouldn't he have already driven at speed on motorways etc seeing as he was an advanced driver?.

Is it policy that as soon as the police get any form of new car, they must once again test that vehicle on public roads at incredible speeds?.

If he had already learnt observational skills etc etc, then surely they could test the cars at speed in perfect safety at any race track or air field if they just need to know how fast they go.

I can leap from a westfield to a transit van and then onto a fork lift and still drive fast and know what they are capable of within minutes (or less).Did he really think that car would be so different to others he had driven?.

It was hardly jet powered with 4 wheel steering was it?

[Mrs Tigger]

Being a Copper dont give them the right to speed & get away with it.

My sisters was a SPECIAL in stevenage, She was traveling home from her shift in her family car when she got stopped by a cop car for speeding. As soon as the coppers saw her in uniform the said " OH you are one of us " and walked away.

So is this the way the law works?

Think i'll take a trip to the local costume shop & hire a police uniform.    

[Westy from the grave]

Having run a speed and control course for the police for ARDS at a circuit, i have to say that i have major problems with this case.

The officers that we were sent for the day were not prepared to lsten to any advice given and were quite dangerous on the track. This led to us stopping the day early for safety reasons.

Need i say more?