Police drivers' speed shame

Police drivers in the West Midlands were caught speeding on camera 8,242 times last year but none were prosecuted and just one faced disciplinary action.

The force says officers are only exempt from being ticketed if they are responding to emergency calls.

The figures for 2007, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, also showed that 33 officers faced disciplinary action for speeding while off duty.

So far this year a total of 3,154 police cars have been caught speeding on camera but the notice of intended prosecution was torn up in each case.

West Midlands Police say there is no blanket exemption for officers speeding.

Officers must fill in paperwork to justify their actions every time a camera is activated and the offence can be cancelled only on the approval of a chief inspector, or higher-ranking officer.

Road safety campaign group Brake said that officers put lives at risk when speeding to get to incidents.

Police spokeswoman Catherine Preece said: "West Midlands Police takes the issue seriously and officers caught speeding will be referred to the force's Professional Standards Department in addition to any punishment a court may issue."