Cameras are for cash

Oct 25 2003 By The Journal

A top North traffic policeman sparked controversy last night when he claimed speed cameras don't reduce accidents - but they do make money.

Northumbria Police's Acting Chief Inspector of motor patrols, Paul Gilroy, walked into a wave of criticism when he made the comments at a road safety launch yesterday.

He prompted the force to issue an immediate defence of its speed camera policy last night.

But it sparked a wave of support from motorists' groups.

Speaking after the oficial launch Insp Gilroy said: "Speed cameras don't reduce casualties - they are just for revenue generation.

"They don't engage and they aren't going to send you a message in the post telling you were driving badly.

"Speed cameras achieve speed reduction at accident blackspots and free up officers to concentrate on education and advice."

Insp Gilroy's comments provoked a mixed reaction from the region's police forces yesterday.

Durham Police do not use fixed speed cameras.

The force operates just a single high-profile mobile speed camera, which is deployed to where it is considered most effective, generally within one of 17 identified hot spots.

Mick Bennet of Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership said: "I am very disappointed that the head of Northumbria traffic police would say this because his organisation is signed up to the same speed camera partnership as us.

"Cleveland Police and the council totally disagree with this inspector and his comments. National and local figures show that speed cameras make people slow down and therefore save lives."

A spokesman for Cumbria Police confirmed that the force continues to use speed cameras to reduce casualties in line with national policy.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "Speed cameras are designed to encourage drivers to drive more safely by reducing their speed.

"The aim is not to catch more drivers speeding or to raise revenue for the police but to reduce injuries and save lives."

Last year 126 people were killed and 1,195 were seriously injured on roads in the region.

Ruth Harper, of Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Speed limits must be enforced in order to save lives, and speed cameras are one of the most efficient methods of doing this.

But motorists' groups welcomed Insp Gilroy's comments.

Claire Price, regional spokeswoman for the AA said: "How refreshingly honest.

"I think he is just confirming what a lot of the public already suspect - that some speed cameras are used just for generating revenue."

Nigel Humphries, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said speed cameras didn't reduce accidents and undermined the credibility of police forces.

He said: "The excessive focus on speed cameras is not helping make roads safer it is making things worse.

"Drivers feel persecuted, stressed and angry and more importantly if they are looking out for cameras or concentrating on their speedometer they are not paying attention to the road."

Northumbria police released a statement last night to clear up any "misunderstanding" of Insp Gilroy's comments.

The statement highlighted his view as: "Speed cameras can and do cut casualties at collision hotspots.

"But they an work in isolation and we need to use a variety of methods to improve driver behaviour.

"As everyone is well aware, income from fines generated by speed cameras is ploughed back into road safety measures."

Page 2: 'Red card' traffic scheme launched