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• An announcement is expected within weeks over whether charges will be brought against an enforcement officer investigated for alleged corruption by the fraud squad.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is about to advise on the action to be taken against the former officer, who worked in the late 1980s and early 1990s in South Wales.
The year-long South Wales fraud squad investigation is understood to have looked into allegations that the officer accepted bribes and held back on ordering sanctions against some law-breaking road operators. The officer resigned from the Vehicle Inspectorate, which took over traffic examiners from the Department of Transport this summer.
One VI source says: "The fraud squad looked into allegations that he accepted bribes, dinners and even vehicles ... and that work was hidden away which should have been actioned."
The CPS will also advise the fraud squad on whether action should be taken against a number of operators. The fraud squad says: "We certainly did look at both sides of the fence and there were a number of people put forward to answer whether their actions were culpable or not."
The case came to light 18 months ago when the VI re ceived an anonymous tip-off about the officer's alleged activities. Fearing criminal activities it called in the fraud squad.
In a move described as "very unusal", a traffic examiner in another of the eight traffic areas is to be questioned this week on "inefficiencies" in prosecuting law breakers.
Investigations within his traffic area will result in the man being asked to explain why some cases against operators have escaped prosecution because proceedings against them were not started in time.
However, a VI source defends the integrity of traffic examiners. "Traffic examiners are extremely honest. With regard to the size and nature of the VI it still remains that the incidence of alleged fraud and corruption are remarkably low."
The VI is sensitive to any adverse publicity because its fu ture is under Government review. Transport Secretary John MacGregor is currently asking for comments on the future structure of the VI.
Options include introducing private operators to operate the vehicle testing side of the business — the European Community does not allow privatisation of the enforcement arm. El There is mounting concern among transport solicitors that local offices of the VI are persuading hauliers to send them their tachograph charts when they are not empowered to do so. Barry Prior of solicitors Wedlake Saints has written to the South Eastern & Metropolitan Enforcement Group of the VI on behalf of one of his clients who was requested by the office to send in his tachograph charts, claiming that a vehicle examiner is attempting to circumvent the provisions of the Transport Act 1968.