Traffic cop under investigation after ‘hitting speeds of 130mph’ on commute

A TRAFFIC cop was allegedly caught hitting speeds of up to 130mph during commutes after dashcam footage was examined by colleagues.

Sergeant Paul Hughes, 43, is on desk duties while Police Scotland probe claims he was driving at almost twice the limit – despite not being on a pursuit.

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It is claimed the roads officer, 43, used an unmarked force car to travel between a police station in Irvine, Ayrshire, and Glasgow.

A source told The Scottish Sun: “After suspicions were raised, dashcam footage was recovered, and this allegedly showed him hitting speeds of around 130mph.

“For anyone to be doing that — while not on a pursuit and without blue lights — is clearly a major issue.”

Sgt Hughes, who lives in Troon, Ayrshire, was said to have exceeded 120mph at least twice while travelling on the M77.

The source added: “He was using an unmarked police car to go from Ayrshire to his workplace in Glasgow and back.

“It’s not clear if this was something he had been given permission to do.”

The case has not yet been passed to the Crown Office for criminal assessment.

A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed: “A 43-year-old officer was reported to our professional standards department relating to on-duty driving.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

But Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said last night: “Having created the national police force a decade ago, SNP ministers have allowed it to become damaged by weak regulation and a lack of transparency.

“The public should be allowed to know the outcome of serious cases of alleged wrongdoing.”

The journeys being investigated are understood to have happened last year.

Sgt Hughes has made only one public appeal for information in relation to a serious motorcycle crash in Irvine last March.

We can also reveal that 135 police officers were linked to speeding offences in 2023, 20 more than a year earlier.

In 2022, only three cops were charged with dangerous driving.
A freedom of information request showed they exceeded 30mph, 50mph and 80mph.

Only one officer was charged with the same offence last year, but no speed was “noted” for that case.

The Police Scotland spokesman added: “The vast majority of officers and staff conduct themselves in line with our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights.

“When someone is alleged to have failed to meet this standard, we take appropriate action, and this extends to their driving, both on and off duty.

“If an officer is reported for his or her standard of driving when on duty, then such matters are reported to the Criminal Allegations Against the Police Division at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“While off duty, all officers are treated in the same manner as any member of the public would be.

“At the conclusion of legal proceedings, the circumstances of such matters are considered by our professional standards