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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6568813
Camera-caught drivers not fined
Hundreds of thousands of drivers caught on camera speeding and going through red lights are not being prosecuted, a BBC investigation has learned.
The figures, for England and Wales, suggest London is particularly bad, with more than half of cases failing.
The BBC Radio 4 probe found cameras in the capital catch about 500,000 people a year, but a third of those cannot be traced to an address.
The Metropolitan Police said tracking down drivers was a national problem.
The Investigation programme found it was difficult to produce national figures partly because there were differences in the way some areas collect their data.
But according to figures supplied by Safety Camera Partnerships to the government, hundreds of thousands are getting away with breaking the law.
Detection
Of the 500,000 people caught on camera in London each year one third cannot be traced - either because they are foreign vehicles, or they are not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
There can also be other problems such as technical faults with cameras and emergency vehicles.
About 350,000 people who have been caught are sent a "Notice of Intent to Prosecute" but only 48% end up getting points on their licences and a fine.
Other parts of the country had also had significant problems, and the programme said it had uncovered evidence drivers were registering cars at addresses other than their own to evade capture.
The Association of Chief Police Officers traffic spokesman, Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, said detection rates for all crimes was 30% and that in that context speed camera offences were being reasonably enforced.
Kevin Delaney, former head of the Met's traffic police, said the figures were evidence of a wider problem that speed cameras can only catch people who are basically law-abiding.
"Any form of remote detection such as speed cameras relies on the information supplied by the public.
"If that is not correct then remote detection immediately falls flat. You need traffic police to catch the problem drivers."
BBC Radio 4's The Investigation will be aired at 2000 GMT on Thursday 19 April
Camera-caught drivers not fined
Hundreds of thousands of drivers caught on camera speeding and going through red lights are not being prosecuted, a BBC investigation has learned.
The figures, for England and Wales, suggest London is particularly bad, with more than half of cases failing.
The BBC Radio 4 probe found cameras in the capital catch about 500,000 people a year, but a third of those cannot be traced to an address.
The Metropolitan Police said tracking down drivers was a national problem.
The Investigation programme found it was difficult to produce national figures partly because there were differences in the way some areas collect their data.
But according to figures supplied by Safety Camera Partnerships to the government, hundreds of thousands are getting away with breaking the law.
Detection
Of the 500,000 people caught on camera in London each year one third cannot be traced - either because they are foreign vehicles, or they are not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
There can also be other problems such as technical faults with cameras and emergency vehicles.
About 350,000 people who have been caught are sent a "Notice of Intent to Prosecute" but only 48% end up getting points on their licences and a fine.
Other parts of the country had also had significant problems, and the programme said it had uncovered evidence drivers were registering cars at addresses other than their own to evade capture.
The Association of Chief Police Officers traffic spokesman, Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, said detection rates for all crimes was 30% and that in that context speed camera offences were being reasonably enforced.
Kevin Delaney, former head of the Met's traffic police, said the figures were evidence of a wider problem that speed cameras can only catch people who are basically law-abiding.
"Any form of remote detection such as speed cameras relies on the information supplied by the public.
"If that is not correct then remote detection immediately falls flat. You need traffic police to catch the problem drivers."
BBC Radio 4's The Investigation will be aired at 2000 GMT on Thursday 19 April
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