Probe as top cop drives at 150kmh
MARLBOROUGH’S top cop is being investigated after he was caught driving in excess of 150kmh to a police briefing.
Inspector Simon Feltham, the region’s area commander, was travelling on State Highway 6 from Blenheim to Nelson when he was clocked speeding by a highway patrol constable near Rai Valley in January.
Sunday News understands Feltham, the Tasman district armed offenders squad (AOS) commander, was en route to a briefing in relation to a preplanned search warrant.
He had his flashing lights on. There was a passenger, another senior police officer, in the vehicle.
It is understood some AOS members attending the briefing had not yet left Blenheim, which is about a 50-minute drive from Rai Valley.
Sunday News was alerted to concerns about the handling of the driving incident by someone who said ‘‘there was absolutely no reason for him [Feltham] to travel at that speed’’.
On Thursday, a police spokeswoman said the matter remained under investigation and ‘‘as such, we are unable to comment further’’.
‘‘Police employees, as with members of the public, will be held accountable where appropriate.’’
It’s believed the investigation is looking at whether Feltham’s excessive speed was justified in the circumstances.
He could not be reached for comment.
According to the police’s urgent duty driving policy, officers can drive in excess of the speed limit if they are responding to a critical incident, gathering evidence of an alleged offence, apprehending an offender or providing security to an official motorcade.
Feltham has been the Marlborough area commander since 2013.