Are you interested in reducing speeding where you live? Do you have time available to help set up a Community Speedwatch group? Then West Mercia Police would like to hear from you, as they appeal for more Speedwatch groups to be set up around Telford & Wrekin.
Community Speedwatch is a nationwide scheme that enables volunteers to work with their local police forces to monitor vehicle speeds within their communities.
At least six individuals from the local community are needed to form a Community Speedwatch group. They are subject to police checks and are then given two hours of training by the police before they can begin to monitor roads in their area.
West Mercia Police has put out an appeal encouraging people to form their own groups.
Is speeding traffic an issue where you live ?
Could you help your local police address the issue, slow the traffic down and make your local roads safer ?
Reducing excessive and inappropriate speed is a priority for West Mercia Police. The force uses a wide range of education, enforcement and publicity programmes to address the issue. Community Speedwatch is one of those initiatives.
Safer Neighbourhood teams across Telford & Wrekin are looking to expand on the number of Community Speedwatch (CSW) Schemes in operation – schemes where volunteers are trained and equipped to monitor traffic speeds in their locality and report back to the police who can then intervene if and where necessary.
The aim of Community Speedwatch Schemes is NOT to catch as many speeding drivers as possible. It aims to encourage motorists to be more aware of their surroundings, and drive at a safe, appropriate and legal speed.
Community Speedwatch schemes can currently only operate in areas with a 30mph or 40mph speed limit and formal surveys will need to have been carried out by the Police Road Safety Team to confirm that CSW is the most appropriate way to deal with any problem that is identified.
A minimum of SIX volunteers are required for a CSW scheme to be viable and each time a speed check event is carried out there must be a minimum of three volunteers present.
All training and equipment will be provided by West Mercia Police and schemes will be supported on an ongoing basis by local Safer Neighbourhood teams and the Road Safety Team.