Almost 50 people formally complained about crime commissioner’s speeding offences

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry outside Nottingham Magistrates Court.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

Almost 50 formal complaints were made against Nottinghamshire’s crime commissioner Caroline Henry after she was found guilty of speeding five times in 12 weeks.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mrs Henry pleaded guilty to the five speeding offences back in May last year at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

She was elected as a Conservative crime commissioner in May 2021, and pledged to crack down on drivers breaking speed limits as part of her work.

Her role entails holding Nottinghamshire Police to account and overseeing spending.

Mrs Henry was clocked travelling over the 30mph speed limit twice near Burford Primary School in Daybrook.

She was further caught speeding on roads in Chilwell and Beeston and on the A610.

She was fined £2,450 and banned from driving for six months at the time.

A report detailing the complaints the crime commissioner received over 2022/23 was noted during a Police and Crime Panel meeting at Nottinghamshire County Council’s County Hall on Monday, June 5.

If complaints are serious enough or relate to conduct matters, the panel must refer them to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The report states Mrs Henry received 49 formal complaints in relation to her speeding offences.

Several other complaints were made, bringing the total made against Mrs Henry in the year to 55.

One said it made “broad allegations against the commissioner, but no
evidence was provided to support them”.

Others were unrelated to the crime commissioner herself and therefore out of scope.

None of the 55 complaints were upheld.

The report says: “Regarding conduct matters, [regulations] say the panel does not need to record a conduct matter if it has been, or is already being, dealt with by means of criminal proceedings against the person to whose conduct the matter relates.”

At the time of the convictions Mrs Henry said: “I’m truly sorry for speeding.

“Quite properly I’ve been fined and banned from driving for six months.”

During the meeting on June 5, panel chairwoman Christine Goldstraw asked members if there were any questions on the matter.

However none were asked at the time and the meeting was declared closed.