Police officer sacked for driving at 154mph

A police officer who warned others of the dangers of street racing has been sacked for speeding.

PC Adam Smith, of North Yorkshire Police, admitted there was "no policing purpose" for driving at speeds of up to 154mph (248kph).

At a misconduct hearing, Chief Constable Tim Forber found PC Smith's actions amounted to gross misconduct and he was dismissed.

He said the speeding was "totally unjustifiable" and could "significantly undermine" public confidence in the force.

Just three months prior to the offence, PC Smith made a video for the force's roads policing group to highlight the issue of street racing, in which he was quoted as saying, "this is Selby not Silverstone".

However, on 8 January 2023, he was accused of driving at a speed of 98mph (158kph) on the A1(M) at Boroughbridge and later reaching speeds of 154mph (248kph) on the same road.

PC Smith admitted that his behaviour had breached the standard of professional behaviour.

As well as being sacked at the hearing in Northallerton on 24 May, he was placed on the College of Policing Barred list.

Mr Forber said: “This speed was manifestly excessive, totally unjustifiable, and this is an entirely different case than an officer or member of the public who is prosecuted for speeding by a moderate amount due to a failure in concentration.

“Accordingly, the only outcome which is appropriate in these circumstances is dismissal without notice."

He added that the actions of PC Smith "undermined the legitimacy of the force", which carried out extensive speed enforcement and prevention activity.

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