Court for senior police chiefsTwo senior Surrey police officers are facing charges that they granted exemptions for traffic offences.
It is claimed exemptions were unlawfully given for speeding and failing to stop at red traffic lights and Surrey Police Chief Superintendent Adrian Harper, 45, and colleague Superintendent Jonathan Johncox, 46, will now appear in court charged with misconduct in public office.
The charges follow an investigation launched by Surrey Professional Standards Department, which is managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, after concerns arose over the way Surrey Police officers and staff accused of breaching traffic laws were treated.
The charges apply to exemptions granted to Surrey Police officers and staff from April 2006 to December 2008.
Police officers responding to emergencies with their blue lights activated are exempt from prosecution for speeding or red light offences, but if they are not activated they can face prosecution if there is no justifiable reason within the law.
In addition to Johncox and Harper, 11 other officers have been investigated, with four cases upheld, three not upheld and the IPCC is still considering the remaining four.
The two men are due at Aldershot Magistrates' Court on August 28 and Surrey Police is to consider further misconduct charges for the cases that are upheld.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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