The Chief Constable of the force which scrapped the speeding ticket of a "memory loss" policeman yesterday described the decision as "a misjudgement of monumental proportions".

His comments came as the force faced heavy criticism from members of the local police authority and calls for changes in the law to ensure police officers are dealt with in the same way as members of the public.

A speed camera caught Detective Superintendent Adrian Roberts' car travelling at 35 mph in a 30mph zone on Teesside.

But the Middlesbrough police crime manager said he could not remember who had been driving his car.

His excuse was accepted by a superintendent in charge of the fixed penalty department, who was unable to identify the driver in the photograph.

The decision to let Mr Roberts off the hook triggered public outrage.

Yesterday, Cleveland Chief Constable Barry Shaw said: "I cannot find any other way of giving vent to my concern, my anger, my personal frustration."

He told a meeting of the Cleveland Police Authority: "I feel more bitterness about this than anything else since I came here as a chief constable. There is no easy answer to the allegations that the police have been looking after their own."

His broadside came at a meeting which called on the Government and police to review fixed penalty procedures - including changes in the law - to ensure police and public are treated alike.

The demand was drawn up by its chairman, Councillor Ken Walker. He said: "This matter has caused a great deal of concern to members of the authority and to the public, quite rightly so.

"I feel we need answers to a number of issues involved."

Assistant Chief Constable Della Cannings said the matter was referred to her, but with Mr Roberts having already received a letter from the force, stating no further action would be taken, her hands were tied.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said he had received hundreds of calls from irate locals and he felt the law had clearly not been applied.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, a former police superintendent, said it was not too late to let the Crown Prosecution Service review the decision.

* The force is involved in a pilot scheme using mobile speed cameras at accident blackspots.