Strange police operation, A228 Kent
Discussion
Just took the dog for a walk and observed the local force engaged in an odd-looking operation. Maybe the Dibbles & BiBs can shed some light!
A228 West Malling bypass. This is currently effectively a no-through-road unless you live or work at King's Hill, due to a major closure of a section of the road further south. For those who don't know, it's a 2-lane (each way) DC, with a 50mph limit.
As I walked up the road (heading south), a marked X5 passed me, controlling a rolling roadblock at perhaps 15mph. Never seen that on this stretch of road before. I carried on walking, and further along the road (between the railway station slip and the KH roundabout) there was:
- a marked 5-series estate parked at an angle across the inside lane, with cones filtering it out
- one officer stood in the carriageway beside the 5-series, observing approaching traffic. Nobody in the 5-series
- three or four officers stood on the footpath beside the carriageway
- a dozen officers (and their minibus) stood on the bridge over the carriageway, some apparently observing the road intently, others with their backs to the road, gassing.
As well as the X5 controlling the roadblocks, there were 3 or 4 other marked cars patrolling up and down this section of the A228, which is unusual in itself.
There were no cameras (other than those on the cars) or other equipment visible.
Nobody was being stopped. All officers were in uniform.
Once the rolling roadblock tailback had finished filtering past the 5-series, the X5, with three uniformed occupants and a female, presumably rat, driver, drove back to the bottom of the bypass at the A20 junction, turned around, and repeated the exercise. However, of course, in the meantime, some cars would have passed along the road unimpeded.
On one occasion they took the cones away from around the 5-series and that drove off too, but by the time I'd been around the local loop of footpaths with the dog and returned to the A228, they had parked it in the same position and were continuing the op.
Can't imagine it was road tax, as I've seen that type of op before and they generally have static cameras placed further down the road, and transporters to remove untaxed vehicles.
Seeking someone specific? Possibly, but as mentioned, that section of the A228 is currently almost a dead end, so it's perhaps unlikely that anyone would be making their way along there if they were wanted.
Odd!
A228 West Malling bypass. This is currently effectively a no-through-road unless you live or work at King's Hill, due to a major closure of a section of the road further south. For those who don't know, it's a 2-lane (each way) DC, with a 50mph limit.
As I walked up the road (heading south), a marked X5 passed me, controlling a rolling roadblock at perhaps 15mph. Never seen that on this stretch of road before. I carried on walking, and further along the road (between the railway station slip and the KH roundabout) there was:
- a marked 5-series estate parked at an angle across the inside lane, with cones filtering it out
- one officer stood in the carriageway beside the 5-series, observing approaching traffic. Nobody in the 5-series
- three or four officers stood on the footpath beside the carriageway
- a dozen officers (and their minibus) stood on the bridge over the carriageway, some apparently observing the road intently, others with their backs to the road, gassing.
As well as the X5 controlling the roadblocks, there were 3 or 4 other marked cars patrolling up and down this section of the A228, which is unusual in itself.
There were no cameras (other than those on the cars) or other equipment visible.
Nobody was being stopped. All officers were in uniform.
Once the rolling roadblock tailback had finished filtering past the 5-series, the X5, with three uniformed occupants and a female, presumably rat, driver, drove back to the bottom of the bypass at the A20 junction, turned around, and repeated the exercise. However, of course, in the meantime, some cars would have passed along the road unimpeded.
On one occasion they took the cones away from around the 5-series and that drove off too, but by the time I'd been around the local loop of footpaths with the dog and returned to the A228, they had parked it in the same position and were continuing the op.
Can't imagine it was road tax, as I've seen that type of op before and they generally have static cameras placed further down the road, and transporters to remove untaxed vehicles.
Seeking someone specific? Possibly, but as mentioned, that section of the A228 is currently almost a dead end, so it's perhaps unlikely that anyone would be making their way along there if they were wanted.
Odd!
Mr_annie_vxr said:
Training officers from area how to put on a rolling road and manage a road incident.
Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
Really? What an inexcusable waste of everyone's time and money.Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
There are plenty of similar real events, especially in the SE, every week, why can't they be used to train people? Are we saying there are no already competent people out there to train on the job?
DSM2 said:
Mr_annie_vxr said:
Training officers from area how to put on a rolling road and manage a road incident.
Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
Really? What an inexcusable waste of everyone's time and money.Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
There are plenty of similar real events, especially in the SE, every week, why can't they be used to train people? Are we saying there are no already competent people out there to train on the job?
Yeah, ok then.
The problem I've got is that I know people want to train, and the A228 in Kent sounds like a great plan to me (as I live a fair way away), but it would seriously piss me off having to live around there/use that stretch of road.
I know, I know, it's a catch-22 situation - what's the answer??
Cheers
The Moose
I know, I know, it's a catch-22 situation - what's the answer??
Cheers
The Moose
The Moose said:
The problem I've got is that I know people want to train, and the A228 in Kent sounds like a great plan to me (as I live a fair way away), but it would seriously piss me off having to live around there/use that stretch of road.
I know, I know, it's a catch-22 situation - what's the answer??
Cheers
The Moose
Presumably this doesn't happen all the time (as the OP walks his dog there and thinks it is unusual). Also from the OP the road is currently not fully open. Sounds about as good as you could hope for to me. I know, I know, it's a catch-22 situation - what's the answer??
Cheers
The Moose
Cat
DSM2 said:
There are plenty of similar real events, especially in the SE, every week, why can't they be used to train people? Are we saying there are no already competent people out there to train on the job?
I think you're on to something.Why not drop the MoD a line suggesting that instead of running all those expensive training camps they kit out new recruits and ship them straight out to Afghanistan and Iraq?
Airlines. Just lob the keys at some wannabees and let them learn as they wend their way down to Spain.
Nuclear power stations could be run by some kids on work experience.
DSM2 said:
Mr_annie_vxr said:
Training officers from area how to put on a rolling road and manage a road incident.
Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
Really? What an inexcusable waste of everyone's time and money.Unfortunately titled as RIM training.
There are plenty of similar real events, especially in the SE, every week, why can't they be used to train people? Are we saying there are no already competent people out there to train on the job?
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