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The son of a senior police officer has been fined and banned from driving for six months for driving a motorcycle more than 60km/h over the speed limit.
Michael Blanch, son of Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch, pleaded guilty to the speeding offense in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Blanch, who is also a serving police officer, was clocked on a Honda motorcycle doing 132km/h in a 70km/h zone on December 28, 2023, in Perth’s northern suburbs.
He was fined $1,200, with costs of $270, and banned from cycling or driving for six months.
Blanch (pictured left) is seen smiling proudly alongside his father as he was promoted to commissioner in 2022.
He did not request a vacated conviction, which means the driving violation will now appear on his record.
Police Commissioner Blanch told morning radio on Wednesday that he was disappointed by his son’s actions.
“I’m disappointed obviously as a father and certainly as a commissioner, but I love my son and will always support him no matter what he does and I hope he learns an important lesson from this.”
“He is not above the law and will face the consequences like everyone else in court.”
Police Commissioner Blanch (pictured) told morning radio on Wednesday that he was disappointed by his son’s actions but still loves him.
Police Commissioner Blanch confirmed that he had also withdrawn from the disciplinary process, which was being handled by a deputy police commissioner, explaining that his son “is not above the law.”
“The first thing I did was inform the CCC commissioner that my son was caught for speeding and I also let the (police) minister know,” the commissioner said.
‘I have completely removed myself from any of the disciplinary processes, I have handed that over to a deputy commissioner.
“I am not speaking to her about this, she will deal directly with the CCC Commissioner as necessary.”