The decision not to prosecute a North-East police officer, who drove at 140 miles per hour on the A1 to demonstrate the power of his car to a prisoner, has been upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The Northern Echo revealed last week how the Darlington officer was reported by the prisoner but faced only internal disciplinary proceedings because he was an advanced police driver.

Road safety campaigners and the town's MP Jenny Chapman questioned the decision but the IPCC has now ruled that Durham Constabulary acted appropriately.

The disciplinary measures taken included removing the officer permanently from road policing duties, suspending his police driving licence, and subjecting him to an action plan concerning risk management and decision making.

According to Durham Police, the action is in line with guidelines established by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service. Indeed, the CPS is said to have made positive comments about the way the case was dealt with and the "strong decisions" that were taken.

As far as the authorities are concerned, all the boxes appear to be ticked. But my guess is that plenty of ordinary people will find it unsatisfactory that the law can be broken in this way without legal action being taken. I'm pretty sure a number of serving police officers will share that view.

It will leave people questioning why there is apparently one rule for the police and another for anyone else who chose to go at such excessive speeds for the purposes of a demonstration.

Won't the public perception be that it's just all a bit too cosy and undermine public confidence? Sorry, but I think so.