THE police have come under fire again after 59 officers from a Derbyshire force were let off after being caught speeding on camera. The speeding tickets were issued during 2004 because the speed camera did not detect a blue flashing light on the vehicles. Derbyshire Police have defended the drivers and insisted all vehicles were being used for police duties.

Assistant chief constable at Derbyshire Police, Mick Creedon, said: ‘Every case is thoroughly examined and in all these 59 instances it has been accepted that the vehicle was being used for operational policing purposes in circumstances where it was necessary for the speed limit to be exceeded in the course of their duties.’

The high-profile case involving a West Mercia officer sparked fury across the motoring industry last week after he was let off after doing 159mph. PC Mark Milton was cleared by a court after ‘familiarising’ himself with his 3.2-litre Vauxhall Vectra GSi at speeds of up to 159mph (Fleet NewsNet, May 26).