Police chief gets £70 parking fine after leaving his BMW in a non-designated area on official visit

Police chief gets £70 parking fine after leaving his BMW in a non-designated area while on official visit to community event

  • Kier Pritchard and Inspector Dave Hobman were attending an event in Swindon
  • Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Prichard’s BMW was given a £70 parking fine
  • Mr Prichard and the force say the cost will not be paid for by taxpayers or police 

Kier Pritchard, the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, discovered his black BMW 4×4 was given a parking ticket by a council traffic warden

A police chief has been left red-faced after he was given a parking fine during an official visit.

Kier Pritchard, the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, discovered his black BMW 4×4 was given a parking ticket by a council traffic warden.

He was given the £70 fine as he visited Swindon town centre for official business on Wednesday.

Both Mr Pritchard and the force say the cost will not be paid for by the taxpayer or by Wiltshire Police.

The Chief Constable said: ‘I was in Swindon attending a number of community events and engagements, including visiting our new Community Policing pop-up shop in the Brunel Centre.

‘Upon arrival in Swindon town centre, we parked in a non-designated area and received a parking ticket from Swindon Borough Council.

‘Although I was on police business, working in an official capacity, I was not attending an emergency and therefore we should have taken the time to find a more suitable place to park.

‘Please be assured this fine will not be paid by Wiltshire Police, and will not be met by the public purse.’

Following the parking blunder, Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said: ‘Regardless of rank, police officers are not above the law.

He was given the £70 fine as he visited Swindon town centre for official business on Wednesday. Both Mr Pritchard and the force say the cost will not be paid for by the taxpayer or by Wiltshire Police

He was given the £70 fine as he visited Swindon town centre for official business on Wednesday. Both Mr Pritchard and the force say the cost will not be paid for by the taxpayer or by Wiltshire Police

‘I have spoken to the chief constable about this and he himself has recognised that police officers must always set a good example, which unfortunately was not the case on this occasion.

‘I can guarantee that the public purse will not be picking up the cost of this parking ticket.’

Mr Pritchard and his colleague Inspector Dave Hobman were attending a community event held outside a McDonald’s in Swindon, called the Family Beach Party.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk