The Richard Brunstrom memo...
Discussion
If nothing else, this should prove to the doubters that speed cameras do kill. After all, if the figures did show that cameras saved lives, why doesn't he want people to give them to Paul Smith?
The only possible reason for not giving them to him, is that they prove something very embarrassing to Brunstrom and the government. And why mark it "restricted"?
Case proved, m'lud.
The only possible reason for not giving them to him, is that they prove something very embarrassing to Brunstrom and the government. And why mark it "restricted"?
Case proved, m'lud.
Dear Colleague
Paul Smith – safespeed.org.uk
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to you in my capacity as Chair of the ACPO Road Policing Business Area. I wish to bring to your attention the actions of a Mr Paul Smith and the website safespeed.org.uk.
The Department for Transport has been inundated with various requests from Mr Smith concerning speed limits, speed enforcement and Government policy on speed management - Mr Smith’s sole intent seems to be to discredit Government policy and the sources of advice on which it is based. He has progressively increased over the last two years the number of professional and public bodies he corresponds with. He starts with pointed questions about statistical and other factors, and when he receives a response he publishes the correspondence criticising and mocking its content aggressively. He is persistent in his follow up correspondence, demanding replies and usually raises further issues seeking to escalate the debate on his terms. He will use any replies received to populate the website www.safespeed.org.uk which now has many pages featuring his correspondence with numerous respected organisations and individuals and their replies. From this correspondence an address in Scotland is given for Mr Smith.
The Department for Transport in its most recent e-mail correspondence with Mr Smith in September stated that whilst they encourage dialogue on the topic of speed, speed enforcement and road safety, they felt it would be unproductive to continue corresponding with Mr Smith given the lack of publicly available research to support his claims and assertions about vehicle speeds and collisions. DfT have advised Mr Smith that unless he is able to provide such material as evidence they will not enter into any further correspondence with him on these topics.
The ‘safespeed’ web site raises a number of areas of concern.
1. The website is opposed to all Government policy in respect of speed enforcement.
2. It provides standard proforma letters to encourage visitors and supporters to lobby government and public agencies over speed enforcement policy.
3. It offers advice on how to avoid penalty points (including asking a friend or relative to take the points claiming the driver is deceased) and the cloning of number plates.
4. Encourages those working in the police, government and partnerships to provide information to the site in confidence and anonymously.
5. There is a recurring catch phrase "let's make speed cameras as unacceptable as drink driving".
It is clearly evident that Mr Smith continues to canvas the Service and Safety Camera Partnerships in order to populate his website and to discredit the Government's speed enforcement policy. Mr Smith does not frequent respected road safety or transport circles or participate in open debate in the mainstream, but appears to operate on the "fringe".
As stated earlier the DfT, along with many of the other organisations that have encountered Mr Smith, have taken the decision that they will no longer correspond with him or parties acting on behalf of safespeed.org.uk. I fully endorse this stance and would ask for your support in this matter.
The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of this stance and to give consideration to supporting both my view and that of Government in dealing with this matter.
Yours sincerely
Richard Brunstrom
Head of Road Policing Business Area
Chief Constables
Swilly said:
Isnt Brunstrom undermining the democratic process and rights of Mr Smith?
Where did this memo come from?
I would agree completely. Mr. Brunstrom would seem to be overstepping the mark and treading a very dangerous line if this letter/email is genuine. You can tell this is the language of a copper who has found someone doing something completely legal and would like to nick him for something but is frustrated as hell that he can't. T
r.deltaf said:
Arise Sir Paul.... 
<bows>
You really are too kind guys.
*thanks a million*
I won't be suing Mr Brunstrom because of a legal obstacle called "qualified privilege". Don't ask. I did and my head hurts.
But I will be making one hell of a fuss. I've already written a complaint to Tony Blair, been on radio 4, North Wales Daily Post on Friday (i.e. today). Sunday Telegraph on Sunday. Welsh TV on Thursday next week (filming Monday). And it's not going to stop there. Damian Green (Shadow Secretary of State for Transport) is giving some support.
I'm considering writing to all chief constables asking them if they would refuse to provide road safety information on the basis of Mr Brunstrom's memo. Would that be fun? Or would that be fun?
If any of you want to complain, Malcolm King of the the North Wales Police Authority is effectively Mr Brunstrom's boss.
www.safsepeed.org.uk/nwpa.html
Or complain to your local chief constable and ask if he will be observing Brunstrom's request. Or complain to your MP about Mr Brunstrom's attempt to restrict access to road safety information. Or complain to David Blunkett - Home Secretary - he's responsible for all Police forces.
And by the way the memo is here:
www.safespeed.org.uk/brunstrom4.html
And the Radio 4 bit is here:
www.safespeed.org.uk/pm002.mp3
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
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