Go easy on drivers, cops told
Discussion
This story from Manchester Evening News, also on front page of Daily mail.
There is a vote on the site asking if the police should go easy on speeding drivers and concentrate more on catching criminals......
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=62702.html
Go easy on drivers, cops told
Neal Snowdon
MANCHESTER'S chief constable is telling his officers to stop targeting
speeding drivers and start catching hardened criminals.
Michael Todd has warned staff that continuing to pressure motorists through
the use of speed cameras will see many law-abiding people develop
anti-police feelings.
He wants them to concentrate on catching burglars, robbers and sex offenders
that the public fear the most.
Mr Todd has told traffic officers to make sure their anti-speeding
operations concentrate on reducing road accident rates rather than
increasing the number of prosecutions through random enforcement of the
speed limit.
In a memo sent out this week, he repeats the stance he took three months
ago.
He says officers should "apply the same balance, discretion and common sense
in how we deal with offences such as speeding as we do with many other forms
of policing.''
Last night he added: "I fear that if we prosecute more and more motorists
and people have a perception that we are being unreasonable then there will
be a backlash.
"We police by consent and need people to have confidence in the criminal
justice system. We rely on people to report offences, to be witnesses and to
be jurors in the fight against crime. Anything that undermines that support
concerns me."
Although the chief constable believes it is important to prosecute reckless
and dangerous drivers, he said police should not have to resort to speeding
fines to encourage safer driving.
He explained that people who commit minor offences such as public disorder
or criminal damage are often cautioned or given a formal warning rather than
prosecuted.
Last November, six weeks after he took over as chief constable of Greater
Manchester, he moved 200 officers from traffic duties to tackling street
robbery, which quickly reduced.
When he was at Scotland Yard he was involved in a campaign, which moved 300
traffic officers to catching muggers.
Mr Todd's views are the harshest criticism yet from a chief constable of the
camera scheme that allows forces to keep a proportion of the fines.
The RAC said: "The camera can't catch the drink-driver, drug-driver,
tail-gater or dangerous driver."
There is a vote on the site asking if the police should go easy on speeding drivers and concentrate more on catching criminals......
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=62702.html
Go easy on drivers, cops told
Neal Snowdon
MANCHESTER'S chief constable is telling his officers to stop targeting
speeding drivers and start catching hardened criminals.
Michael Todd has warned staff that continuing to pressure motorists through
the use of speed cameras will see many law-abiding people develop
anti-police feelings.
He wants them to concentrate on catching burglars, robbers and sex offenders
that the public fear the most.
Mr Todd has told traffic officers to make sure their anti-speeding
operations concentrate on reducing road accident rates rather than
increasing the number of prosecutions through random enforcement of the
speed limit.
In a memo sent out this week, he repeats the stance he took three months
ago.
He says officers should "apply the same balance, discretion and common sense
in how we deal with offences such as speeding as we do with many other forms
of policing.''
Last night he added: "I fear that if we prosecute more and more motorists
and people have a perception that we are being unreasonable then there will
be a backlash.
"We police by consent and need people to have confidence in the criminal
justice system. We rely on people to report offences, to be witnesses and to
be jurors in the fight against crime. Anything that undermines that support
concerns me."
Although the chief constable believes it is important to prosecute reckless
and dangerous drivers, he said police should not have to resort to speeding
fines to encourage safer driving.
He explained that people who commit minor offences such as public disorder
or criminal damage are often cautioned or given a formal warning rather than
prosecuted.
Last November, six weeks after he took over as chief constable of Greater
Manchester, he moved 200 officers from traffic duties to tackling street
robbery, which quickly reduced.
When he was at Scotland Yard he was involved in a campaign, which moved 300
traffic officers to catching muggers.
Mr Todd's views are the harshest criticism yet from a chief constable of the
camera scheme that allows forces to keep a proportion of the fines.
The RAC said: "The camera can't catch the drink-driver, drug-driver,
tail-gater or dangerous driver."
How things have changed, and how people change their views to suit the cause.
Michael Tod used to be a DAC in the Met Police not too long ago and if my memory serves me correctly....he chaired a committee on how best to both justify and utilise more speed enforcement cameras (GATSO).
This did make me smile and wonder why this leopard has changed his spots?.
Michael Tod used to be a DAC in the Met Police not too long ago and if my memory serves me correctly....he chaired a committee on how best to both justify and utilise more speed enforcement cameras (GATSO).
This did make me smile and wonder why this leopard has changed his spots?.
I dunno...maybe something to do with his crime detection figures going the way of the pear?
I support his views as to putting cops back on the beat or on other duties as opposed to having them scamming for the state.
Maybe common sense is starting to breed amongst them?
BTW, how did yer water/jetskiing go?
I support his views as to putting cops back on the beat or on other duties as opposed to having them scamming for the state.
Maybe common sense is starting to breed amongst them?
BTW, how did yer water/jetskiing go?
tonyrec said:
This did make me smile and wonder why this leopard has changed his spots?.
This will be PR puff, trying to disassociate the police from the "civilian scamera partnerships abuse of motorists". The government have set the "game" up so that any police chief constable not screwing motorists is effectively reducing his budget.
DAZ
O/T - A very skilled carpenter I know is emigrating to australia in 2 weeks. This following being banned from driving for six months under the totting up procedure at the beginning of the year. My plumber is currently on 9 points, though with his earnings he'll probably employ an apprentice to drive him about if he gets banned. Alright for some. What about the rest of us trying to earn a living.
My plumber is currently on 9 points, though with his earnings he'll probably employ an apprentice to drive him about if he gets banned. Alright for some. What about the rest of us trying to earn a living.
The farrier who looks after our nags, is in super tax bracket,(When he can be arsed to turn out the bookies)
now on home straight 9 points, looking for driver to run him about
The farrier who looks after our nags, is in super tax bracket,(When he can be arsed to turn out the bookies)
now on home straight 9 points, looking for driver to run him about
On my way back from Rockingham yesterday evening, I too glimpsed this story on the front of the aforementioned publication, whilst purchasing one of those ginormous ice cream Mars bars, several packets of Walkers finest and an unfeasibly large bottle of Pepsimus Maximum from a service station just south of my home zone.
Duly encouraged by the news, I proceeded to test out the new regime.
Can't recall ever doing the M6-M62-M60 run so effectively!
A sensible policy for a happier Britain...can it possibly be so?
Duly encouraged by the news, I proceeded to test out the new regime.
Can't recall ever doing the M6-M62-M60 run so effectively!
A sensible policy for a happier Britain...can it possibly be so?
O/T - A very skilled carpenter I know is emigrating to australia in 2 weeks. This following being banned from driving for six months under the totting up procedure at the beginning of the year. My plumber is currently on 9 points, though with his earnings he'll probably employ an apprentice to drive him about if he gets banned. Alright for some. What about the rest of us trying to earn a living.[/quote]
I hope your carpenter friend knows what he's letting himself in for coming to Australia. Over here it's a lot worse that UK. In NSW you get an instant ban for driving at 130km/h (that's 80mph!) and Victoria the tolerence for cops and speed camera's issuing a ticket is 3km/h over the limit! Also max speed is 110km/h except in the Northern Territory where they have no limits.
rich 36 said:
My plumber is currently on 9 points, though with his earnings he'll probably employ an apprentice to drive him about if he gets banned. Alright for some. What about the rest of us trying to earn a living.
The farrier who looks after our nags, is in super tax bracket,(When he can be arsed to turn out the bookies)
now on home straight 9 points, looking for driver to run him about
Whilst i loathe speed cameras as much as anyone else here, i do think this is silly - the guys on 9 points, so is looking for a driver? Could he not just stop speeding?!
fast westfield said:
Iam lucky I do not travel very far to work and sometimes cycle, but I feel sorry for the people that travel miles and miles each day for there job.
One camera van or fixed camera or police man every year for a few miles over the posted limit and it 12 points and no job.
Paul.
Welcome to my life
gh0st said:
Iam lucky I do not travel very far to work and sometimes cycle, but I feel sorry for the people that travel miles and miles each day for there job.
One camera van or fixed camera or police man every year for a few miles over the posted limit and it 12 points and no job.
Paul.
Welcome to my life
Infuriating, isn't it.
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