PC sacked over speeding offence

A police officer accused of gross misconduct over a speeding offence has been sacked without notice.

Northamptonshire Police said Dale Hillyer was clocked driving at 37mph (60km/h) in a 30mph zone while he was on duty on 17 May.

He provided misleading information regarding the urgency of his journey, the force said.

A spokesperson said Mr Hillyer was at the disciplinary hearing on 19 and 20 March and denied the allegations.

He was originally issued with a Notice of Intended Prosecution after a mobile police camera van captured him driving the police vehicle.

The disciplinary hearing, sitting at Northamptonshire Police's headquarters, said he submitted an application for exemption which contained "false and/or deliberately misleading information in regards to the urgency of his journey".

The panel said his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

"Whilst we accept that some of the harm associated with operational impropriety does not apply here, this is still a case which involves significant dishonesty which took place on duty," said the panel, in a statement.