The police
141. In 1998, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabularies
(HMIC) Report on Road Policing and Traffic stated:
"It was disappointing that many forces have
not seen road policing as a priority".
The Association of Chief Police Officers' memorandum
agreed that HMIC's concern over the lack of priority in the late
90s had been justified but it was no longer:
"Road policing in general and casualty reduction
in particular is now seen by the service as core policing. The
consistency issue has been addressed and exciting nationally coordinated
major projects are now in hand ...The main project is the National
Camera Safety Scheme".[226]
ACPO added that a new set of speed enforcement guidelines
had been published in 2000. They included a nationally agreed
minimum trigger level for enforcement action. The organisation
reviewed the National Road Policing Strategy[227]
(first established 1996).
142. Although The Association of Chief Police Officers
has shown a very impressive commitment to tackling speeding and
submitted a forceful and detailed memorandum, it is by no means
clear that all police authorities have followed its lead. As we
have seen, some authorities have significantly reduced the numbers
of road traffic police. Not all police authorities have casualty
reduction targets in policing plans.[228]
The Metropolitan Police was singled out for criticism by several
witnesses even before its decision to remove half its traffic
police from their duties. Sustrans drew attention to:
"the ongoing lack of interest by the Metropolitan
Police. There may be a disturbing link here with the continuous
poor road safety record in London, notably for pedestrians".[229]
143. The evidence which we received indicated that
it would be impossible to get every police authority to pay sufficient
attention to traffic policing unless the Home Office indicated
that it was it was a particular priority. We discuss how this
should be done below.
144. The Association of Chief Police Officers
has shown an impressive commitment to tackling road traffic speed.
Unfortunately, not all police authorities have given it the same
priority. The Home Office must make it very clear to all of them
that road traffic policing is a priority. The Metropolitan Police
was singled out for criticism for its disregard of this important
aspect of policing. We recommend that the Greater London Authority
review the Metropolitan Police's approach to traffic policing
as a priority.
226 RTS 137. Back
227
ACPO has had a National Road Policing Strategy since 1996. Its
strategic aim is to contribute to the reduction of death and injury,
damage and fear on our roads. Speeding is highlighted as one
of the three operational priorities. Back
228
RTS 15. p. 48. Back
229
RTS 18. Back
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