Traffic Policing

Police Federation spokesperson: “We believe with proper leadership, management accountability and funding, roads policing officers can deliver a more visible and effective, value for money service. This will also enable officers to be able to deal more robustly with the transient elements of criminal activity where motor vehicles are used in the commission of crime, especially using motorways”.

 

• The Police Federation of England and Wales oppose separating traffic policing from the other roles of the police service. This is often proposed as a means of saving money, or releasing police officers for fighting crime but it would achieve neither.

 

• We support the use of speed cameras as a tool for road safety but do not consider that they should be utilised as a method of raising revenue.

 

• We welcome the introduction of new and advanced technology to assist the police in their traffic duties; however, technology should never replace adequate human visible police presence.

 

• We believe that a separate traffic organisation to enforce road traffic law and deal with traffic incidents, such as the proposed Highways Agency Traffic Officers, would not result in more police officers being available for other tasks. It would be hugely expensive and would be paid for in part by reducing police budgets.

 

Background

 

Crime is inseparable from traffic policing. Every year many thousands of cars are stolen or broken into and many criminals use cars to commit crime.
 
A substantial number of arrests of mobile criminals are made by traffic officers, who can be the first police at the scene. If a separate traffic enforcement organisation existed, police officers would still be necessary to deal with crime on the roads. The first duty of the police is the protection of life. 
 
Every year, about 3,450 people are killed on our roads and thousands more are hurt in accidents. The number of people killed or injured on the road far exceeds that of murder and other forms of crime.
 
Many road traffic incidents are caused by drivers who have been drinking. We are confident that police enforcement of the law against drinking and driving has had a marked effect on driving habits and thereby saved thousands of lives.

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