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Speed guns handed to villagers
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| Focus: PC Mark Pilling |
THE latest technology is being passed down to a local level to catch speeding motorists in west Oxfordshire.
It is the first area in the Thames Valley force to devolve operations down to Neighbourhood Action Groups, equipping beat officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) with laser guns and speed indicator devices (Sids).
The action follows consultation showing that speeding is a consistent complaint in the district's towns and villages.
Already speed data recorders have been fixed at 20 different roadside sites during the past month, providing police with information about when motorists were more likely to break speed limits.
On the A44 at Enstone, figures showed that the 30mph limit was broken most during the morning and afternoon 'school run'.
Scott Evans, west Oxfordshire Neighbourhood Sergeant, said: "We are able now to be more precise about where we target and to do it more quickly because we have the equipment at a local level."
The district's five Nags now have access to their own laser and Sids.
The laser guns will be operated by neighbourhood police officers who can issue fines and penalty points.
Sgt Evans added: "You would not normally have expected speeding to be one of the priorities people want the police to deal with.
"But from our survey of over 1,000 people in west Oxfordshire it has come up as a consistent priority.
"Locally we did not have the ability to tackle the porblem. Now we have the equipment in our own hands."
The west Oxfordsire initiative comes on the back of the recent national Speed Enforcement Week.
Mark Pilling, road safety constable for Oxfordshire, said: "West Oxfordshire now has the equipment and officers at a local level to give it (speeding) more time."
6:25pm Monday 5th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: katrina, witney on 11:30pm Mon 5 May 08
why are laser guns still being used?essex police band them as they gave inaccurate readings,which was proven in a court of law,so to pass these items down to the locals who have no means to calibrate these guns,which is required two hours before use,isnt this just asking for trouble.in a sense the police are gaining via disception.Is'nt that a crime???.
And for all those folks that need to speed,best bet is remove your number plates its only a thirty fine and no points,take a leaf out of some of the motorcyclist on the roads.Drive safe.
why are laser guns still being used?essex police band them as they gave inaccurate readings,which was proven in a court of law,so to pass these items down to the locals who have no means to calibrate these guns,which is required two hours before use,isnt this just asking for trouble.in a sense the police are gaining via disception.Is'nt that a crime???.
And for all those folks that need to speed,best bet is remove your number plates its only a thirty fine and no points,take a leaf out of some of the motorcyclist on the roads.Drive safe.
Posted by: Nobby., witney on 9:26am Tue 6 May 08
I Guess someone needs to keep an eye on Katrina.
I Guess someone needs to keep an eye on Katrina.
Posted by: sledgy, witney on 10:22pm Wed 7 May 08
A laser speed gun that was calibrated , clocked a brickwall speeding IIRC
can't we find police who want to police , and not pass the job on to others
as for motorbikes they are a law unto them-selves
burford rd , minster lovell on a sunday
like a race track
A laser speed gun that was calibrated , clocked a brickwall speeding IIRC
can't we find police who want to police , and not pass the job on to others
as for motorbikes they are a law unto them-selves
burford rd , minster lovell on a sunday
like a race track
Posted by: Simon, Banbury on 4:20pm Thu 8 May 08
Sorry, but this article is mis-titled! The 'guns' have not been given to the viallgers - just to their neighbourhood police officers.
Sorry, but this article is mis-titled! The 'guns' have not been given to the viallgers - just to their neighbourhood police officers.
Posted by: ID, Witney on 7:40pm Fri 9 May 08
"figures showed that the 30mph limit was broken most during the morning and afternoon school run"
Which shows that it's mothers and fathers who pick up their children who are to blame for most speeding offences ! The very ones who complain about people speeding and campaign for Gatsos in the first place.
My neighbours have 2 pre school kids and the way they drive around here is appalling. Yet if I am to drive my car at the speed limit people sit up my tail pipe.
What a joke.
"figures showed that the 30mph limit was broken most during the morning and afternoon school run"
Which shows that it's mothers and fathers who pick up their children who are to blame for most speeding offences ! The very ones who complain about people speeding and campaign for Gatsos in the first place.
My neighbours have 2 pre school kids and the way they drive around here is appalling. Yet if I am to drive my car at the speed limit people sit up my tail pipe.
What a joke.
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