MORE than 50 police officers in Avon and Somerset were fined for speeding last year while on routine patrol, it has emerged.

Police vehicles were captured going over the limit or driving through red lights on 863 occasions over the 12 months, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Most of them were on 999 calls, but several resulted in officers being fined or reprimanded.

Of the 642 tickets for speeding, 52 resulted in officers receiving a £60 fine, while 23 were referred'.

Just two of the cases of police vehicles going through red lights ended up in fines, with 14 referred.

In the referred cases, the officers were given an official reprimand and some were sent on driving courses.