Things that Trafpols no longer do
Discussion
The way that we/i work has changed over the past couple of years.
Things that we used to do as a matter of course on almost a daily basis are no longer our responsibility.
Examples are.
1) Ambulance Escorts.......only on desperate life and death runs will we get involved, or spinal runs.
The powers that be decided it was more cost effective if the Ambulance crews were equipped with an A-Z.
2) Abnormal Load Escorts.....this is now being done by 'private' companies.
3) Collisions on non 'fast roads'. We used to deal with every Collision wherever, now we only deal when its a Fatal or where the injuries are life changing.
Also, every RTA on a road where the speed limit is 40mph or more (Fast Road).
4) Commercial vehicle units has gone, this specialism is down to relief PCs, most of whom are young in service and are not yet qualified.
For everything else, its systems as normal.
At least all of these cutbacks go hand in hand with the dwindling numbers of Trafpol.
Things that we used to do as a matter of course on almost a daily basis are no longer our responsibility.
Examples are.
1) Ambulance Escorts.......only on desperate life and death runs will we get involved, or spinal runs.
The powers that be decided it was more cost effective if the Ambulance crews were equipped with an A-Z.
2) Abnormal Load Escorts.....this is now being done by 'private' companies.
3) Collisions on non 'fast roads'. We used to deal with every Collision wherever, now we only deal when its a Fatal or where the injuries are life changing.
Also, every RTA on a road where the speed limit is 40mph or more (Fast Road).
4) Commercial vehicle units has gone, this specialism is down to relief PCs, most of whom are young in service and are not yet qualified.
For everything else, its systems as normal.
At least all of these cutbacks go hand in hand with the dwindling numbers of Trafpol.
Makes you wonder about how policy makers think. The most dangerous thing that anybody does in a day is to use our road systems and yet the people who try and keep our roads as safe as possible are being squeezed out of service.
As an aside, i often drive past a hospital (that will remain nameless) that has a large spinal unit. The local council have recently put speed bumps on the approach road to the hospital (its a residential area); you couldn't make stuff like this up! So now the poor ambulance crews and the poor patient have to fight their way thorugh traffic unescorted and the negotiate speed (sorry, safety) bumps
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 14th January 10:59
As an aside, i often drive past a hospital (that will remain nameless) that has a large spinal unit. The local council have recently put speed bumps on the approach road to the hospital (its a residential area); you couldn't make stuff like this up! So now the poor ambulance crews and the poor patient have to fight their way thorugh traffic unescorted and the negotiate speed (sorry, safety) bumps
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 14th January 10:59
MilnerR said:
Makes you wonder about how policy makers think. The most dangerous thing that anybody does in a day is to use our road systems and yet the people who try and keep our roads as safe as possible are being squeezed out of service.
As an aside, i often drive past a hospital (that will remain nameless) that has a large spinal unit. The local council have recently put speed bumps on the approach road to the hospital (its a residential area); you couldn't make stuff like this up! So now the poor ambulance crews and the poor patient have to fight their way thorugh traffic unescorted and the negotiate speed (sorry, safety) bumps
>> Edited by MilnerR on Friday 14th January 10:59
It's quite simple - I think.
Cameras - cheap
Trafpol - not cheap
The requirement is that the statistics get better. It does not matter - from the Senior Plod/Politicians viewpoint whether the statistics mean anything as long as they can be "touted".
So the fact that trafpol make the road "much safer" than cameras do doesn't matter, because they decided to quantify safety to suit.
MilnerR said:
As an aside, i often drive past a hospital (that will remain nameless) that has a large spinal unit. The local council have recently put speed bumps on the approach road to the hospital (its a residential area); you couldn't make stuff like this up! So now the poor ambulance crews and the poor patient have to fight their way thorugh traffic unescorted and the negotiate speed (sorry, safety) bumps
FFS!!! Can they not see the field day the insurance Co.s are going to have disputing what might well be very valid claims on the basis the 'slight' back injury sustained in the incident was worsened only by the speed bumps, and it was these that caused the paralisys! Thereby reducing the damages awarded.
This is at best. Look at it another way and the Council could perhaps be sued itself and yet again if this happens who ends up footing the bill.
arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh
JonRB said:I understand your point, but I meant to say that they are not cheap for us; it is us who pay for the cam and it is us who pay for the scam.
Cameras aint cheap (especially the digital variety), but they do pull in a lot of tax
Indeed, so in net terms they are cheap because they are essentially self-financing.
supraman2954 said:
supraman2954 said:
Cameras aint cheap (especially the digital variety), but they do pull in a lot of tax
Indeed, so in net terms they are cheap because they are essentially self-financing.
I understand your point, but I meant to say that they are not cheap for us; it is us who pay for the cam and it is us who pay for the scam.
You say that as though value for money for the tax payer was a consideration :rolleye:
so lets take the arguement all the way
no police, cheapest policing available.
Lets not have a police force and introduce self regulation.
Neighbourhood watch schemes become compulsory.
Drivers gain the right to ram off the road anyone they think drives badly.
(PS tony, whats a commercial unit?)
no police, cheapest policing available.
Lets not have a police force and introduce self regulation.
Neighbourhood watch schemes become compulsory.
Drivers gain the right to ram off the road anyone they think drives badly.
(PS tony, whats a commercial unit?)
Tonyrec said:
1) Ambulance Escorts.......only on desperate life and death runs will we get involved, or spinal runs.
The powers that be decided it was more cost effective if the Ambulance crews were equipped with an A-Z.
Slightly off topic...
I remember watching a half hour programme a few years back that consisted entirely of in car footage of a (Met) police run (in an SD1 IIRC) carrying a transplant organ from a handover from the Essex Constabulary to the Cromwell Hospital during the morning rush hour.
As a demonstration of skilful (real world) driving I reckon it was second to none. Wish I had recorded it.
supraman2954 said:
Cameras - cheap
Trafpol - not cheap
Cameras aint cheap (especially the digital variety), but they do pull in a lot of tax
You sure ? A trafpol - with training, equipment, insurance, and of course wages and pensions, without much real "income" vs a box which has low maintenance costs and can rack up fines at a microscopic unit cost ?
tonyhetherington said:
TonyRec, conversely, do you now do things that you didn't 1 or 2 yrs ago?
(No matter how I wrote that it seemed short and ill-tempered but is not intending to at all, I just had a short question that's all !
Thats a good question mate and im thinking.
First thing that springs to mind is more paperwork, and thats the truth.
Secondly, i give more verbal warnings for speed and seem to report more drivers without Licences or Insurance.
autismuk said:1 digital scamera - maintenance = 1 BiB employed for 10 years on a decent wage (incl pensions and benefits)
autismuk said:
Cameras - cheap
Trafpol - not cheap
Cameras aint cheap (especially the digital variety), but they do pull in a lot of tax
You sure ? A trafpol - with training, equipment, insurance, and of course wages and pensions, without much real "income" vs a box which has low maintenance costs and can rack up fines at a microscopic unit cost ?
....and Bib show discretion
unless costs have come down recently, which will be scary cos it means they'll be popping up everywhere
Cameras, are in my view the biggest pyramid selling scam ever perpetrated.
Sure you have to buy the first few, after that, the money starts to roll in. This enables you to buy more - out of your profits. The more profits, the more cameras you buy. Expensive? Nah!
Got enough money now? Well, why don't you buy some of these nice vans we can supply you with, they'll make you even MORE money. All this and it doesn't cost Gordon a penny.
And guess what? all those EXTRA policemen he promised? They can all come from TrafPol!
Oh! cameras are cheap all right, Cheap as chips!
Sure you have to buy the first few, after that, the money starts to roll in. This enables you to buy more - out of your profits. The more profits, the more cameras you buy. Expensive? Nah!
Got enough money now? Well, why don't you buy some of these nice vans we can supply you with, they'll make you even MORE money. All this and it doesn't cost Gordon a penny.
And guess what? all those EXTRA policemen he promised? They can all come from TrafPol!
Oh! cameras are cheap all right, Cheap as chips!
[quote=8Pack]
And guess what? all those EXTRA policemen he promised? They can all come from TrafPol!
/quote]
Spot on mate.... and dont forget Blunkets Bobbies.
(Ive got nothing against them apart from the fact that they shouldnt have as many, the rest of the money should go on recruiting Policeman.....or training up the would be Blukets men to the required standard).
And guess what? all those EXTRA policemen he promised? They can all come from TrafPol!
/quote]
Spot on mate.... and dont forget Blunkets Bobbies.
(Ive got nothing against them apart from the fact that they shouldnt have as many, the rest of the money should go on recruiting Policeman.....or training up the would be Blukets men to the required standard).
rustybin said:
1) Ambulance Escorts.......only on desperate life and death runs will we get involved, or spinal runs.
The powers that be decided it was more cost effective if the Ambulance crews were equipped with an A-Z.
Slightly off topic...
I remember watching a half hour programme a few years back that consisted entirely of in car footage of a (Met) police run (in an SD1 IIRC) carrying a transplant organ from a handover from the Essex Constabulary to the Cromwell Hospital during the morning rush hour.
As a demonstration of skilful (real world) driving I reckon it was second to none. Wish I had recorded it.
A few years back - In an SD1 !! Do you mean 20 years
Cheers,
Steve.
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