Police have ordered an inquiry into what the Police Minister has described as a “disturbing” decision by country police officers to let a speed camera operator off with only caution after he was caught speeding by more than 30km/h.

The incident happened on Albany Highway near Kojonup on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in September which was a double demerit period and would have cost the camera operator his licence if the officers had booked him.

Police have confirmed that the officers used their “discretionary powers” to issue the caution after clocking the man doing 111km/h in a roadworks zone where the speed limit had been reduced to 80.

The normal penalty for speeding more than 30km/h over the limit is six demerit points and an $800 fine.

But with double demerits, the penalty would have been 12 points which would have automatically disqualified him from driving.

“These are disturbing allegations and I will be seeking a full explanation from the Commissioner of Police,” Michelle Roberts told The West Australian late yesterday after being made aware of the incident.

Assistant Commissioner for Regional WA Murray Smallpage later confirmed that he had ordered an independent inquiry which would begin immediately.

“I have ordered a review and someone independent of the (Great Southern) District will conduct a full assessment of the circumstances, at which point I will make a decision to what we will do,” he said.

It is understood that the original decision to caution could be overturned if the inquiry found that the officers involved had made an error.

The case has already been investigated at a local level and Great Southern District Supt Dominic Wood yesterday defended his officers, saying he believed the caution was a “legitimate, proportionate and reasonable” response under the circumstances.

“The officers made the decision in this case based on the driver’s explanation (that the signs were confusing) and having re-driven the direction this driver came from,” he said.

“We patrol actively to keep people safe and can use discretion under certain circumstances.”

On the same weekend, officers from the Great Southern boasted on social media about other drivers who were not so lucky, copping tickets after being caught speeding in similar circumstances through roadworks.

“We saw the (speed) sign unlike the motorist who received an $800 and 12 demerit point infringement in an 80 kph zone,” one post read.

Another post said a driver lost their licence for speeding in a “work zone” near Katanning.

The incident also occurred while police were involved in industrial action and had been advised by their union to issue cautions instead of infringements for minor traffic and liquor offences.