Tuesday 11th January 2005

'New' government strategy keeps scameras

Need for traffic police acknowledged in political puffery

---

A strategy for policing the roads -- described as "new" -- was announced yesterday by Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, Home Office Minister Caroline Flint and Richard Brunstrom, Head of Road Policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Don't get too excited -- the emphasis on speeding and revenue cameras remain a mainstay of the strategy though a "highly visible police presence" is also on the list.

The joint strategy identifies the following policing priorities:

• Denying criminals use of the roads by enforcing the law
• Reducing road casualties
• Tackling the threat of terrorism
• Reducing anti social use of the roads
• Enhancing public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads

It clearly sets the police commitment to deal with all forms of illegal and anti social use of the roads, including drink driving, speeding, dangerous or careless driving and behaviour which is threatening to road users – including pedestrians as well as drivers.

The strategy aims to tackle these through:

• A highly visible police presence on the roads
• Continued operation of the speed camera programme for cutting casualties and deaths at collision blackspots
• A national police drink and drug driving campaign
• A national police seat belt campaign to increase the level of seat belt wearing, especially in the rear-seats and by children

Speaking ahead of today's second reading of the Road Safety Bill -- which includes proposals to ban radar detectors -- Alistair Darling said, "This clear and shared commitment to policing the roads is backed up by the Road Safety Bill. There can be no doubt that we are committed to enforcing existing laws, and measures contained in the bill, to ensure that everyone can use the road safely and without intimidation.

"We’ve had significant success in recent years at reducing the number of casualties on our roads. But we can and will do even better. Unlawful and anti-social behaviour on the road is not acceptable."

Caroline Flint said, "Roads policing is an important and valuable part of day-to-day policing. It not only helps reduce deaths and injuries on the roads, but reduces anti-social and criminal misuse of vehicles and provides a reassuring presence to the public.

"A key element in the strategy is the increased use of new technology such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition Technology (ANPR). Officers using ANPR make nine times the number of arrests and contribute to three times the number of offenders brought to justice compared with a conventional officer.

"But, technology is not the whole picture - the strategy will ensure that there is an adequate police presence on the roads to deal with significant problems which cannot be detected by technology, including drink and drug driving, and to help wider crime reduction.

"We are committed to challenging unlawful and unruly behaviour on the roads as we do on the streets and in other public places. The Road Policing Strategy published today reaffirms this commitment and will make a significant contribution to road safety and law enforcement."

Richard Brunstrom said, "Tackling irresponsible, unlawful and anti-social use of the roads is rightly a policing priority. I'm delighted to see the Home Office, Department for Transport and ACPO joining forces in this very public way - this statement will set the tone for roads policing for years to come."

Links
ANPR news stories: www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=9447
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=9392

[v8thunder]

Sorry, but what's 'Tackling the threat of terrorism' got to do with road policing? Seems like it's a case of any excuse to invade civil liberties and make money out of it with this lot.

[kevinday]

Alistair Dribbling said said:

"We’ve had significant success in recent years at reducing the number of casualties on our roads."

So that's why the number of deaths is rising is it?

[JamieT]

On the local news last night they announced that in my area of Somerset thay are introducing night-time mobile speed cameras to stop the increase in night time accidents and anti-social driving. Wow! This must be a new kind of scamera that I've not seen before - one that can catch drunk drivers, terrorists, those without MOT, Tax or insurance, as well as speeding motorists. Its funny, but there was no mention of any increase in road patrolling.

[mybrainhurts]

kevinday said:

Alistair Dribbling said said: "We’ve had significant success in recent years at reducing the number of casualties on our roads." So that's why the number of deaths is rising is it?

Alistair Dribbling REALLY said:

We've become experts with smoke and mirrors and the adjustment of truth by bending definitions and blending figures.....look into my eyes, look into my eyes.....not round my eyes, look into my eyes....not my eyebrows......you're under........

[tvrman]

I have to say I drive quite a few miles a week, and since the new year I have notice quite a few more jam sarnies on the roads....Though on the M4 they travel at night with the blue light on 'dim' and charge about at 100mph.....

Anyway, perfer the old fashions jam sarnie policing to camera vans on bridges.

Ian

[S Works]

Well what a refreshing new way of thinking about our safety on the roads.

I wonder how much money was wasted on consultants to dream this up.... er, hang on a minute... weren't the BiB supposed to be doing this anyway?

More evidence that this government has lost its way, is totally devoid of new ideas and is more anti-motorist than ever before.

I wonder what parts of anti-terrorism law they'll be able to sneak in under the table to screw us with? Now there's a lovely thought....

[tannerma2002]

"Anti-social Driving".

I'll bet, in their eyes, it won't include driving too slow.

Mark

[prelude4ws]

some monkeys said said:

The joint strategy identifies the following policing priorities: Denying criminals use of the roads by enforcing the law Reducing road casualties Tackling the threat of terrorism Reducing anti social use of the roads Enhancing public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads

They missed out an "ist" it should say :

"Reducing anti socialist use of the roads"

[catso]

tvrman said:

Anyway, perfer the old fashions jam sarnie policing to camera vans on bridges. Ian

Sounds like we're going to get both - enforcing more 'laws'

Presumably this means we'll have more Scameras and more laser-Plod.. - well someone's got to pay for it

And Brainstorm even signs as "ACPO Road Policing Business Area"

Full document at:

www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_033749.pdf

>> Edited by catso on Tuesday 11th January 18:48

[Jasper Gilder]

The world's gone mad and common sense has deserted us, drowned out in the baying of the brainstorm led mob. We only need one policy and one alone - the complete eradication of stupid driving.

[granville]

mybrainhurts said:

[quote=Alistair Dribbling REALLY] We've become experts with smoke and mirrors and the adjustment of truth by bending definitions and blending figures.....look into my eyes, look into my eyes.....not round my eyes, look into my eyes....not my eyebrows......you're under........

Superb.

Yet another revolting reinforcement of nu labia's control & milk policies when it comes to greater and greater infractions against personal movement and sneaking in viler and viler slugs of taxation.

Surely people can detect the fundamental difference between Michael Howard & Co and this mob?

How on earth can they stay in power beyond the forthcoming general election? Mind boggling to realise that somehow, they probably will.

This Brunstrom fellow seems to be a sharp instrument of labour's subjegation squad, a veritable political animal, far more than just a policeman.

Absolutely appalling people.

[sgt^roc]

kevinday said:

Alistair Dribbling said said: "We’ve had significant success in recent years at reducing the number of casualties on our roads." So that's why the number of deaths is rising is it?

Reducing road death,,, where? you just cant right this stuf can you for Brumstrom, or Darling here is my mobile number 07771 526208 just call me and explain were lives have been saved since the data show another increase, "jusus H christ" what planet are they on allowing someone like Brumstrom who has a clear dislike for motorist near such a crical problem baffles me???

[Peter Ward]

sgt^roc said:

....what planet are they on allowing someone like Brumstrom who has a clear dislike for motorist near such a crical problem baffles me???

I'm sure that to the government he has a balanced and objective viewpoint that coincides with its own.

[TeamD]

Hmmmm...let me see, "anti-social use of the roads", who gets to define the limits of what that is? According to most of these crazed w**kers any use of the roads by a private individual is anti-social!