Police defend speed charge

THE chief constable of a British police force that is prosecuting an ambulance driver for an alleged speeding offence while he carried a transplant organ yesterday hit back at critics who believe the case should never have been brought.

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.