Friday 20th June 2003

Highwaymen Take Over

Police relieved of many duties as Highways Agency steps in

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[Alex]

So the ACPO finally admit that the police should be "out catching burglars" instead of antagonising motorists? The police have always seemed annoyed when I've pointed that out in the past...

[planetdave]

Christ.

Adding more civil servants and making it a two way responsibility split on our major roads is not going to cause MUCH mayhem.

Bloody Arse Darling empire building moron numptyville

[swilly]

Good bloody idea. The Highways Agency is the obvious choice to deal with the quoted isses leaving the Police to do what they are best at - upholding the law and catching the crims.

The Highways agency already contracts out area maintenance of the motorway network to civil engineering contractors, you may have noticed on the roads white vans plastered in 'Incident Control Vehicle' particularly around Brum and the M6, so this is the logical next step.

[s2ooz]

being sceptic that I am, how much longer before there powers are increased, and they start controlling, cameras, there placement, scamvans, road speeds etc etc.. civil servants meddling in things they shouldnt.

bah humbug. Im turning into victor meldrew

[mybrainhurts]

swilly said:

Good bloody idea. The Highways Agency is the obvious choice to deal with the quoted isses leaving the Police to do what they are best at - upholding the law and catching the crims. The Highways agency already contracts out area maintenance of the motorway network to civil engineering contractors, you may have noticed on the roads white vans plastered in 'Incident Control Vehicle' particularly around Brum and the M6, so this is the logical next step.

Remember traffic wardens being privatised?

Tickets.......targets........hiding to nab you.......cheating........?

Now, apply same to civilian road patrols.

Good Idea..............???....No thanks.........

[GasBlaster]

Very bad news for motorists - don't kid yourself that the police resources thus released will be put to work catching real criminals. No, the additional police resources will be put to work generating additional revenue by issuing even more speeding tickets.

[spaximus]

There are several reasons for this, one the perception that police will be able to catch criminals. Two it may work, three yes they will eventually get powers on speeding etc this will reduce the taxes Gordon has to raise. And finally and this is the big one, the average copper is very expensive to have, they can retire after 25 years on full index linked pension and have bullet proof terms and conditions. Set this against a new level of empolyee overseen by the highways authority but sub contracting as many of the council currently use, work till they are 65 or whatever age they make up without all the perks of pension etc and you can see where this is going. The example of the traffic wardens was a clear sign most are just normal employees of whoever has the contract. We will see fewer police and more jobsworths with power and I doubt if it will work and the scary thing is loads of untrained subbies haring down the hardshoulder with the orange lights flashing!!!!!!

[Richard C]

[quote]white vans plastered in 'Incident Control Vehicle'[/quote]

Can anyone explain just what these vans do ?