Police insist Henry didn't receive special treatment

Graham Henry got away with a warning, rather than a hefty fine and demerit points. Photo / Getty Images

A police officer was not fully certified for the radar equipment used to catch Graham Henry speeding along the Auckland waterfront - meaning the All Black coach received only a warning - not a hefty fine.

Henry was one of five motorists the lone officer stopped on Tamaki Drive last Friday between 6pm and 9.30pm.

In response to accusations that Henry was let off without a fine because of who he is, Superintendent George Fraser, the Auckland City police district commander, said all the motorists were given warnings about their speed and their warrants and registrations checked.

"None were issued with speeding tickets due to the fact that the police officer could not issue a legally valid infringement notice after having used speed detection equipment."

The officer was being spoken to about police policy on the use of speed detection equipment. It is not normal practice for officers who are not fully certified to use such equipment.

Henry, who is in Hong Kong with the All Blacks, was reportedly clocked driving at 81km/h in a 50km/h area.

That could have cost him $300 and 40 demerit points.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the officer was acting in a "highly visible deterrent role" to encourage road users to act responsibly and safely, in line with the long weekend national campaign.

Next to issuing a ticket, the officer did the "next best thing" which was warning drivers of their responsibility on the roads.

"That was the whole idea, to be visibly deterrent."

All police officers who were rostered to work last weekend were encouraged to contribute to making the roads safer. She said the officer had the "best of intentions" and treated all nine people he stopped in the same way.

"No one got any special treatment," Ms Hegarty said.

The officer could not rely on the radar to issue a ticket.

"If he hadn't used the radar he would have been able to issue a ticket depending on the level of evidence he might have had."

Henry was stopped only hours after police advised motorists before the holiday weekend that they would get a ticket if they broke the speed rules by 4km/h, down from the usual tolerance of 10km/h.

Henry declined to comment yesterday.