Sunday, July 20, 2008

Scottish Police Services Authority Chief kept 999 blue lights on car

Keeping the trinkets & titles of duty doesn’t go down well all the time as Scottish Police Services Authority Chief David Mulhern finds out :

The Sunday Mail reports :

Former police chief keeps illegal 999 lights on car

By Norman Silvester

A FORMER police chief is breaking the law in his £30,000 five series BMW - by sporting flashing blue lights.

David Mulhern, 51, retired from the force to join the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) as chief executive.

But he kept his BMW with two blue lights on the front grille and siren.

Only serving officers and emergency workers can have the lights.

The civil servant is risking a £2000 fine.

Road traffic investigator George Gilfillan said: "Only an emergency vehicle can can be fitted with a blue warning light.

"If this car was behind me I'd think it was a police car."

Mulhern left Central Scotland Police in late 2006 to take up his post.

He drives from his home in Glasgow's west end to his city office and meetings across Scotland.

Mulhern is responsible for the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, the Fingerprint Service, Forensic Services and the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan, with an annual budget of £80million.

There has been friction between the SPSA and some senior officers over claims of interference.

Mulhern said: "The car was secured by SPSA from Central Scotland Police when I moved into this post.

"Its capabilities have never been used in that time and I have taken immediate steps to have the horn and lights disabled and removed altogether."

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