Police to use new 'state-of-the-art' speed cameras

A police force has used money from developments on its patch to buy two new "state-of-the-art" speed cameras.

Leicestershire Police said the two Trucam II cameras will help them "tackle speeding and illegal car racing" in the county.

The cameras cost about £9,000 each and use both laser and video.

The force said the units are Home Office approved and were paid for by Section 106 contributions from developers as part of planning permissions approved locally.

Leicestershire Police said the cameras "combine a speed-detecting laser with a video recording function" and can capture the information needed to prosecute offenders without them stopping.

A spokesperson said: "Speeding at car meets across the force area has prompted complaints and some driver behaviour is proving extremely dangerous, putting lives at risk.

"They can be used to capture offences, record moving footage and provide a high-definition image which can be processed without the need to stop the vehicles at the scene."

The force has been carrying out Operation Flux across Leicestershire and Rutland to tackle local road safety issues since December.

Problems have ranged from illegal street racing meets in Blaby to inconsiderate parking blocking narrow streets in Leicester.

The force added it has already been seizing vehicles at car cruises and sending warnings to offending drivers.

The spokesperson added: "We would also ask members of the public to keep reporting offences so we can continue to take action."

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