Police defend speed charge
Mike Ferguson is being brought to court for allegedly travelling at 104mph on the A1 in Lincolnshire as he travelled from St James’ Hospital in Leeds to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, with a liver for transplant.
Critics, including unions the GMB and Unison and a man whose life was saved by an organ donation, have said Mr Ferguson should not be prosecuted. But the chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, Richard Childs, defended the decision and said the case could clarify traffic law relating to vehicles carrying organs for transplant.
Mr Childs said in a statement that he and his officers had been “very upset” at some of the comments made about their position on the case, which he refused to discuss for legal reasons.
He added: “Deciding which cases to prosecute and which not to is a fine balance. Sometimes the decision, whilst the right one technically may not be the right one in the eyes of the wider community until the broader issues are in the public domain.
“All I can do is to make it very clear that we consider saving life the most important thing we do. To suggest that this case compromises that principle is unfair, deeply hurtful and wrong.”
Mr Ferguson, a senior driver with West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, appeared before magistrates in Grantham, Lincolnshire, yesterday morning.
The case was adjourned until June 11 and he indicated in a letter through his legal team that he will plead not guilty to the charge. He could lose his licence.
