Watching the Detectives.....................

Monday 30 May 2011

Wrong plaice! Policewoman caught parking in a bus stop as she fetches cod and chips


A policewoman has been reprimanded after parking her squad car in a bus stop space as she went to buy fish and chips.

The unnamed officer - whose force have a zero-tolerance campaign against bad driving habits - was captured by angry motorist Chris Leigh in Bournemouth.

Dorset police handed out 1,073 fixed penalty notices to motorists in April for offences ranging from wearing no seatbelt to using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Illegal: A police car can be seen parked on red tarmac - where buses should stop - as she collects her fish and chips
Illegal: A police car can be seen parked on red tarmac - where buses should stop - as she collects her fish and chips
 
Indeed, just days after 34-year-old Mr Leigh took the picture he was himself fined £35 after momentarily leaving his car on a verge while he loaded it outside his home.

He has now accused the force of double standards, claiming: 'It's one rule for them and another one for us.' 

Businessman Mr Leigh said police often park at the bus stop - clearly marked with bright red tarmac - opposite his computer and TV repair shop in Bournemouth, to visit the chip shop, which is just a short walk from the local police station.

Caught: The police officer has been identified and reprimanded for the hypocritical parking
Caught: The police officer has been identified and reprimanded for the hypocritical parking
 
He continued: 'The police often park in the bus stop to get fish and chips which is something anybody else could get a ticket for.

'Just days after this picture was taken I got a ticket outside my home. I was moving house and was shifting cars around to load them.

'I put one car on the verge for a short time and got a £35-fine. I'm not arguing against it, but the police should not be above the law.

'But they often park at the chip shop opposite my business even though it is just a short walk from the police station.

'It makes me angry that there appears to be one law for us and another law for them.

'However, since I've raised this issue I've noticed that the police have started to walk to the chip shop.' 

Inspector Chris Weeks, of Bournemouth police, said the offending officer had been identified and disciplined.

He said: 'At the time this picture was taken Dorset police were not responding to an emergency at this location.

'Dorset police do not condone this breach in parking regulations.

'I have identified the individual officer responsible and given them formal words of advice.

'It provides an obvious reminder to all officers that our behaviour is under constant scrutiny and as such we must be professional and beyond reproach at all times.

'There is not one rule for the police and another rule for the public.'

30th May 2011

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