Across all our areas, and in every survey, speeding emerges as a major concern of residents. Most of all in the Missendens, where for the past seven surveys, going back to November 2021, residents have voted speeding their leading concern. Community Speedwatch (CSW) provides residents the tools to make a difference in their neighbourhoods.
A constant Frustration for Residents
While Speeding shows up regularly as one of residents’ highest scoring concerns, it is fair to say that tackling it has been a constant frustration.
- Reckless driving is an obvious and visible danger within communities; in the eyes of residents, there are any number of hot-spots around our policing area.
- Much as we might demand police enforcement to clamp down on speeders, the different remits of Roads Policing and Neighbourhood Policing mean that, realistically, neither can provide coverage to tackle speeding issues which will satisfy all local communities.
- In the past, even where volunteers stepped forward, the system seemed cumbersome and many felt that their data disappeared into a black hole. Other challenges and conditions restricted the ability of CSW groups to operate at times and with the frequency that they might have wished.
To be clear, we can expect enforcement when Police officers encounter speeding motorists. When the Forum has asked for speeding to be treated as a focus area, targetted operations have been carried out. And some operations have seen TVP Police combine targetting erratic driving with other anti-crime initiatives. But the reality is that this is one of the areas in which members of the community have played, and can play an important part, by participating in Community Speedwatch (CSW).
Community Speedwatch as part of the Solution
In recent years, CSW has undergone a transformation. Improvements have delivered more transparent management of the scheme, a more efficient use of data, a streamlined system of sending out notification letters to speeders, greater access to equipment and flexibility to carry out sessions.
Data captured in a CSW session can be uploaded directly to the network, and the system will send out automated letters to the registered keeper of a speeding vehicle. Moreover, with the data shared nationwide, in a commonly accepted format, those who offend repeatedly across a number of areas show up.
CSW members now arrange their own times for patrols, not needing to wait for coordination with Police Officers/PCSOs. A well-organised CSW scheme can cover much more of the local road network than the Police can, subject to approvals on locations.
Equipment can be loaned out to schemes. Roadside insurance can be provided by Thames Valley Police – the cost of public liability insurance had been a potential obstacle for smaller schemes.
Residents can join existing schemes or can group together and apply to set up a new scheme covering an area, road or stretch of road which is giving them concern.
It is important to stress that Community Speedwatch is an ‘educational’ rather than enforcement tool. There is evidence that receiving a letter does have a deterrent effect. And repeat offenders, or excessive speeders, receive visits from local Police.
But data from Community Speedwatch sessions can be helpful in enforcement work. It is one form of information that may direct Neighbourhood Police Officers to locations for enforcement. Similarly, reports may inform roads policing on locations, the potential siting of a speed camera van, and multi-agency initiatives to consider measures such as road design.
Reports can help in other ways. DVLA will accept the report of an untaxed vehicle as emanating from a Police body; vehicles without insurance or MOT will be checked to see that the vehicle is on the Police ANPR system; and data is shared across Police forces.
In summary, all these changes put more effective means into the hands of concerned communities.
What’s next?
The prime need now is more volunteers – could this be you?
