Road safety campaigners have reacted furiously after it emerged that London's top traffic policeman had escaped with a written warning for being driven in a police car which was caught speeding.
Chief Superintendent Les Owen, head of the Metropolitan Police traffic division, was reportedly late for a meeting when the marked force vehicle he was travelling in drove at up to twice the speed limit.
The Omega, occasionally using its sirens, was said to have sped along roads in north east London at one point hitting 86mph in a 50mph zone.
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It was also reported to have been driving along parts of London's North Circular and surrounding roads at 82mph in a 40mph limit.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said Mr Owen had accepted a written warning from its Directorate of Professional Standards for "failing to challenge the manner in which a Pc drove a police car in which he was a passenger".
However, a spokeswoman for the road safety charity Brake condemned the reprimand as "insane".
"If he truly believes in road safety and the things he has said about the dangers of speeding and how horrific car crashes are, then he should resign."
Earlier this year, Mr Owen's driver, Pc Mark Bradley, successfully appealed a court's decision to hand him a six-point penalty over the incident.
