Dorset Police are angry

[rewc]

There is an article in the local daily that the plan introduced by the Dorset Camera Partnership, to offer driver awareness training in the place of prosecution, is angering the Police because drivers caught by them are not to be offered them. The police say that this is making them look like the bad guys.
Of course the limits at which the partnership offer training or to prosecute is a secret, as is the threshold that individual police officers prosecute rather than use their discretion. Perhaps a word of warning from a Policeman is the equivalent of the Partnerships offer of training?
I can't help but feel amazed that the police, who were the prime movers for setting up the partnerships, should now be complaining about their activities.

[gilbertd]

So why aren't the police offering them? A few months ago a van driver (a red one before anyone accuses me of white van man bashing) hit the back of a queue of stationary traffic. His speed at time of impact was estimated to be around 50mph on a wet road and he wrote off his van, the Punto he hit and the Metro the Punto was shoved into. The only car involved that wasn't a write off was mine which was hit by the Metro. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

I recently got a letter from Cambridgeshire Police telling me that they had found him to blame for the incident but would not be prosecuting. Instead, he would have to attend a driver improvement course, the cost of which would be £180 which he would have to pay. The letter went on to say that a fine and penalty points would do nothing to improve his driving but this, hopefully would. I've got to admit, it made a lot of sense to me.

[rewc]

When the reporter asked the Partnership why the Police were not offering the courses her response was 'it was down to the Chief Constable to decide how speeding offences were disposed off and the current scheme does not encompass tickets issued by Dorset Police Officers.'

[catso]

So if the cops are that upset, why not use a bit more discretion? can't see the motorists complaining, really this whole 'speed kills' thing has got totally out of hand.

[turbobloke]

rewc said:

I can't help but feel amazed that the police, who were the prime movers for setting up the partnerships, should now be complaining about their activities.

Macbeth said:

We are but teachers preaching bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th' inventor

[autismuk]

gilbertd said:

So why aren't the police offering them?

Because they cost money. If the Scumera Pratnerships could get away with charging 4 times as much for 1 mph over the posted limit, they would. However, they would also start a mass riot.

[gilbertd]

autismuk said:

gilbertd said: So why aren't the police offering them? Because they cost money.

Yes they do, but in this area they pass the cost onto the person being made to do the course. Unlike a fine and points, he still gets hit in the wallet but may actually end up being a better driver.

[busa_rush]

gilbertd said:

The letter went on to say that a fine and penalty points would do nothing to improve his driving but this, hopefully would. I've got to admit, it made a lot of sense to me.

[autismuk]

gilbertd said:

autismuk said: gilbertd said: So why aren't the police offering them? Because they cost money. Yes they do, but in this area they pass the cost onto the person being made to do the course. Unlike a fine and points, he still gets hit in the wallet but may actually end up being a better driver.

It's work as well.