Cop convicted of careless driving

He went through red light without sirens

A police officer convicted of careless driving after he drove through a red light in an unmarked vehicle has been fined and given five penalty points, but is still working for Devon and Cornwall Police.

PC Craig Powell, 43, was answering an emergency call when he went through the stop signal and collided with another vehicle.

Although a jury at Plymouth Crown Court found him not guilty of dangerous driving, he was convicted of careless driving.

The incident in Truro in October 2021 left the driver of the vehicle he hit needing hospital treatment, although her injuries were only slight.

PC Powell was driving an unmarked BMW 5 which was fitted with emergency response lights and sirens, when he responded to reports of a sighting of a suspect vehicle.

With the emergency response equipment activated, he followed a marked police car but both vehicles turned off their lights and sirens after travelling around 24 miles.

PC Powell took a different route to the marked car when he turned into Tregolls Road, Truro, where he saw what he thought was the suspect vehicle heading in the opposite direction.

Having turned around, he re-engaged the emergency response equipment and headed along that road on a dual carriageway, which has a speed limit of 30mph. At speeds of up to 68mph, he was more than double the speed limit at peak driving time before 9 a.m.

PC Powell approached the traffic lights at the junction with Trevithick Road and moved into lane one at a speed of 42mph. He passed through the red light without slowing and collided with a grey Mazda. 

Following the collision, PC Powell had his emergency driving exemptions suspended and but has remained on full duties. Although it is 18 months since the incident, the court case has just concluded and he is still subject to an internal disciplinary process.

Assistant chief constable Glen Mayhew said: “Officers receive extensive driver training to ensure they undertake their role effectively and without putting the public at any greater risk.

“On this occasion, the officer has failed to maintain the standard of driving that we expect, and this subsequently compromised public safety. 

“It is fortunate that the casualty was not more seriously injured, and our thoughts are with her.”