‘Let-Off' For Top Traffic Cop Clocked at 86mph

Daily Mail, Thursday, October 27, 2005

The Metropolitan Police traffic chief who allowed himself to be driven through London at up to 86mph because he was late for a meeting has been let off with a written warning.

The punishment for chief Superintendent Les Owen has brought protests from road safety campaigners.

Mr Owen, architect of a series of anti-speeding campaigns, was driven by a constable in a marked police car which reached 82mph on roads with a 40mph limit and 86mph in a 50mph zone.

But a disciplinary inquiry concluded he should not suffer any loss of rank or financial penalty. He was officially notified last month – 19months after the incident.

Zoe Stow, of the charity RoadPeace, said: “We are very disappointed that this case is seen as so trivial. Speed is the root cause of many crashes which result in loss of life and serious injury.”

Scotland Yard said: “Mr Owen accepted a written warning for failing to challenge the manner in which a police constable drove a police constable drove a police car in which he was a passenger.”