Newbury officer caught speeding on M4 faces Thames Valley Police misconduct hearing for dishonesty

A Newbury police officer is facing a misconduct hearing over alleged dishonesty after being caught speeding on the M4.

PC Argyle was speeding on the M4, without blue lights, on August 17.

The vehicle was caught by a speed camera doing 62mph in a 50mph zone.

The officer is now facing a misconduct hearing for allegedly being dishonest in his exemption form – with the risk of dismissal.

The driver claimed an exemption with the claim of transporting a prisoner who was verbally abusive and moving around in the car.

The police vehicle allegedly stopped where it was safe to pull over on B3270, after speeding at Junction 11.

The prisoner was then allegedly spoken to at the roadside, where he calmed down enough for the journey to continue.

The exemption read: “The prisoner was compliant during arrest and restrained in handcuffs and seatbelt in the rear passenger side.

“Prisoner became upset and verbally abusive and was moving around to a point where I increased speed to get off of the motorway, this was with a view to safely pull over.

“Lights not illuminated as too close to exit slip and would have confused drivers in lane one (I was in lane 2).

“Prisoner was spoken to at roadside on B3270, just past junction 11.

“He calmed down enough to continue journey as normal.”

The police officer submitted this exemption form to Inspector Hunt – who then sought clarification – on the evening August 28.

Within an hour of the same night the officer emailed Insp Hunt, stating: “No exemption is being claimed.

“I was distracted but it’s no excuse.”

PC Argyle is now being tried for gross misconduct for providing an original exemption that is materially untrue, demonstrating a lack of integrity to avoid being prosecuted for excess speed, not providing a diligent explanation.

Such dishonesty and lack of integrity and lack of diligence would discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in it.

It therefore amounts to a breach of the Standard of Professional Behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct.

If proven, such conduct amounts to gross misconduct in that it is so serious it justifies dismissal.

The misconduct heating will be chaired by Legally Qualified Chair (LQC) Harry Ireland at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Oxford from April 24 to April 25, starting at 10am.