Police boss: Speed cameras should not be cash cow’s

A police boss in North Wales is seeking assurances speed cameras will not be used as a money-making cash cow.

Julian Sandham, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, says it should be made clear the purpose of the Go Safe scheme is to reduce casualties and save lives.

Mr Sandham and his boss, Commissioner Winston Roddick, have written expressing their views to the chief lead officer for the Welsh Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, Carl Langley, the Deputy Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police.

A study is now being conducted in North Wales to see if the Go Safe scheme could be made more effective.

Mr Sandham said: “I am aware of

“I am aware of public concern that the speed cameras are being used as revenue raising machines.

“I think it’s important that the Go Safe business plan stresses that the priority is the reduction of casualties. There is clearly an enabling infrastructure that underpins all that, but the priority of minimising casualties on the roads in Wales and specifically for us North Wales is important.

“Having read the 2015-16 business plan document, there are certain areas where you could conclude that the income generation side of things is prominent. In my opinion it should be made clear that the context is minimising of casualties.

“I think we could get more of the general public on side if that message was loud and clear because I think the majority of reasonable people would agree we need to tackle problems where they exist and make our roads safer.

“We are undertaking a piece of scrutiny work with regard to this issue and when it is complete we will be talking to the force about our findings.

“I would stress, however, there is a great deal of good practice happening already in North Wales.

“The system of tasking in North Wales is quite clearly a strong one, and the central ticket office in North Wales seems to be an efficient operation.

“Likewise, we have been assured by the Force that deployments are not exclusively aligned to sites which have a history of collisions. Some deployments take place to prevent and reduce the likelihood of collisions, where following analysis and professional judgement, they are considered necessary.

“I’m certainly not advocating that we should get rid of speed cameras because used intelligently they have an important role to play.

“What I’m advocating is that we should be using Go Safe to its best effect which is reducing casualties on our roads.

“We have communicated with Carl Langley to remind him of the proposals we made at the last meeting of the All-Wales Policing Group.”