A motorist who tried to claim that he didn’t believe a constable was a ‘real officer’ when asked to stop by police has been sentenced.
Officers were patrolling in Radford when they saw a car being driven along Hartley Road.
A vehicle check revealed that the black Seat’s road tax had expired the previous year, prompting a Special Constable to begin searching the area to locate the car.
The officer was leaving the address of the registered keeper when the car, driven by Junaid Iqbal, turned into Regent Street in New Basford.
He was approached by the Special Constable, who clearly informed Iqbal that a traffic stop was being conducted and that it would be an offence if he drove off.
The 26-year-old swore at the officer before turning around and driving away.
Officers also served a Section 172 notice at Iqbal’s address, but no reply was received.
The notice is a requirement under the Road Traffic Act for a registered keeper of a vehicle to identify the driver when an alleged offence has occurred.
At interview, Iqbal claimed he didn’t believe the constable was a real police officer, despite the officer wearing official uniform and alighting from a marked police car.
His defence was further undermined by irrefutable body-worn video evidence that captured the entire incident, after the car was initially spotted at around 11.30am on February 10.
Iqbal, of Regent Street, New Basford, was found guilty in his absence of failing to stop for police and failing to provide a driving licence or identification at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 11.
He was fined £660 and was ordered to pay £390 in costs and a £264 surcharge. Iqbal also received six penalty points on his driving licence.
Special Constabulary officers, often known as specials, are part-time volunteers who work alongside police officers from across the force.
Specials come from all walks of life – university students, office workers, and retirees – to conduct frontline police work and help serve and protect their communities.
A Special Constable has the same powers, uniform, and responsibilities as a police officer, but they work voluntarily.
Special Constable Marlow Dupont, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Iqbal wilfully drove a vehicle on a public road without tax and then defied the instruction of a uniformed police officer to try and avoid the consequences of his actions.
“The public would rightly expect that those who commit traffic offences and show blatant disregard for the law are robustly dealt with.
“We simply won’t tolerate this behaviour and will continue to patrol our roads and neighbourhoods to ensure communities are kept safe and that those who believe the law does not apply to them are brought to justice.
“The Special Constabulary play an invaluable role in supporting the work of Nottinghamshire Police across the city and county.
“Specials conduct a wide range of policing roles – from response and neighbourhoods to specialist teams – and are often at the heart of communities to help keep residents safe.”
