Traffic cop fired for committing 22 road offenses

A British traffic police officer who spent much of his career stopping other motorists has been fired after a hearing found he rode two motorcycles 22 times while they were uninsured or barred from public roads.

Nicholas Lovatt was found to have committed gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing on Sept. 2 conducted by Chief Constable Simon Blatchly, LBC reported.

Lovatt joined Derbyshire Constabulary in 2001 and appeared on Channel 5's "Traffic Cops."

He rode his own motorcycle 16 times between Sept. 16 and Nov. 25, 2025, while it was uninsured and registered under Britain's Statutory Off Road Notification scheme, known as SORN.

A SORN declaration tells the government a vehicle is not in use on public roads. It exempts the owner from vehicle tax and prohibits the machine from being ridden or parked on a road.

In September and October 2025 he rode a second motorcycle belonging to a close acquaintance six times, Derbyshire Live reported. That bike's MOT roadworthiness certificate had expired and it was also declared SORN.

Lovatt bought insurance for his own motorcycle on Nov. 25, 2025.

A colleague stopped him the following day.

Lovatt said the bike had "not been on the road for ages," Derbyshire Live reported. Force records showed he had been riding it for more than two months.

At the hearing, Lovatt admitted riding both motorcycles but denied acting dishonestly or without integrity, LBC reported. He also rejected the allegation that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

Blatchly found that Lovatt had breached the professional standards on honesty and integrity, and that his conduct was discreditable.

He concluded that Lovatt's choices had significantly damaged public trust and confidence in policing.

Nicholas Lovatt served with Derbyshire Constabulary from 2001 and appeared on Channel 5's "Traffic Cops." Photo courtesy of Derbyshire Constabulary

Lovatt had dealt with road traffic for much of his career. He had confronted many drivers who endangered themselves and others through the same offenses he went on to commit.

Lovatt had repeatedly ridden an uninsured vehicle into force headquarters and then been dishonest about it when colleagues pulled him over, Blatchly said.

Public knowledge of those circumstances would seriously harm trust in policing, he said.

Character references submitted on Lovatt's behalf described an officer who was well liked and well respected across the force, Derbyshire Live reported. Blatchly also acknowledged his involvement in high-profile investigations.

Blatchly noted the breakdown of Lovatt's marriage and his subsequent separation, but found the scope for mitigation very limited.

"No other outcome than dismissal would be adequate to uphold public confidence in policing," Blatchly said, adding that officers cannot break the law themselves or be dishonest about it.

Channel 5's "Traffic Cops" followed Derbyshire's road crime unit as it targeted drug couriers and dangerous drivers across the county. Episodes broadcast in 2019 and 2021 featured Lovatt pursuing suspects and detaining drivers during motorway stops.

Driving without insurance in Britain carries a fixed penalty of £300 ($401) and six penalty points, and courts can impose an unlimited fine or a driving ban.

Avon and Somerset Police, one of the forces running a national crackdown on uninsured driving, told the BBC that motorists caught without cover are up to 10 times more likely than others to be convicted of drink or drug driving.