Community speed watch groups need more powers, says MP

Community speed watch groups could be a greater support to police if they gained legislative powers to fine drivers, an MP has said.

Drivers caught speeding by the volunteers receive a letter from the police but are not prosecuted.

Duncan Baker, Conservative MP for North Norfolk, said there was a "frustration" they did not have legal powers.

The government said it had no plans to increase the powers of speed watch groups.

Norfolk has 101 community speed watch groups, who use radar devices to catch speeding drivers.

Their work has resulted in 10,489 warning letters being sent to motorists in the last six months, 17,013 in the last 12 months, according to a report to the Norfolk Police and Crime Panel.

Mr Baker told BBC Politics East: "The frustration at the moment is our speed watch teams don't really have any legislative powers.

"They can report to police people who are repeat offenders. The police can send them a letter but they can't actually do anything such as issuing three points.

"I think there is a case in the future - with the technology - we could end up helping our community first responders to support the police with more legislative powers."

Motoring writer and television presenter Quentin Willson said: "Roadside policing groups are a good thing but they need to be managed and should not be responsible for speeding policy across the UK.

"They have a role but we mustn't allow them to be too - and the word here is 'vigilante' - because that would discredit the whole idea of road safety and reducing road tragedies, which is what we all want."

Andrew Bickerton, co-ordinator of Great Massingham Speed Watch, said the group was formed by volunteers concerned at the amount of traffic speeding through the village and causing a danger to young and old people.

Volunteer Alan Petto said: "It would be good if there was a way of giving speed watch a bit more power. It would be nice if some prosecutions took place, but how do you regulate that?"

Peter James, chairman of Great Massingham Parish Council, said the group was becoming "very popular".

"We've almost doubled in numbers in the last six months. More people are coming forward to be trained, so we can do more speed watch," he said.

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans, said: "Speed watch volunteers aren't just there to help the police, they're there to flag hotspots and educate people about the dangers of speeding.

"In many cases they're trying to identify the need for other anti-speeding measures.

"But even though resources for community policing have been slashed I don't think we should be expecting volunteers to fill the gap."

A Home Office spokesman said: "There are no plans to extend the speed enforcement powers held by the police to civilians.

"Motorists must obey the speed limit, which is there to protect and benefit all road users. We will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including in relation to speeding offences."

BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 24 March at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

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