Granny, get your gun
Retired locals armed with hand-held speed detectors will be recruited by police to target drivers breaking limit
‘A high-visibility deterrent’
SPEEDING motorists could soon be snared by pensioners armed with police technology under controversial new proposals.
Officers want to start a ‘Community Speedwatch’ scheme using locals with speed guns to trap drivers, who would be issued with a warning.
In previous pilots of the scheme carried out in Fife and parts of England, many of those handling the speed guns were retired people.
It is the latest battle in the war against drivers who go too fast.
Recently, ‘pop-up’ cardboard cut-outs of police officers have been put on streets to deter drivers from putting their foot down.
Police chiefs say letting civilians use speed guns ‘empowers’ locals to make their roads safer – but critics warn that drivers will simply ignore them as soon as they realise they cannot be punished.
The proposals were revealed recently at a council meeting in Edinburgh.
Under the scheme, locals pay for equipment to clock speeding drivers, which will not result in fines or points but a formal letter reminding motorists to slow down in future and warning them of the dangers involved in speeding.
Chief Inspector Alan Carson told City of Edinburgh Council’s South West locality committee the scheme ‘empowers local people’ in ‘making roads safer in their neighbourhood’. He said: ‘Groups can purchase equipment and we will provide training on how and where to operate it safely. The groups are then able to carry out their own checks and report to police any vehicles driving through over the speed limit.
‘We will write to the registered keepers advising them of their speed and reminding them to obey the speed limits in builtup areas.
‘It is about monitoring rather than enforcement – a highvisibility deterrent to encourage drivers to reduce their speed, improving the safety and quality of lives of the local community.
‘We are currently looking into running a pilot project in the south of the city.’
A trial in Fife saw trained volunteers carry out checks using hi-tech police equipment such as the Falcon and Unipar speed detection systems.
But the ‘gimmick’ programme has been heavily criticised by councillors, who believe the real issue is being overlooked.
Labour councillor Scott Arthur said: ‘People will soon learn to ignore these residents once they realise they will not be punished.
‘The only solution to this – and many of Edinburgh’s problems – is to put more police on the streets.
‘We in the capital pay four times more per head than the rest of the country for police, with the council handing Police Scotland £2.6million. And what do we get? Some cardboard cut-outs and ageing residents holding a camera.’
Roger Lawson, from the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘Where is the legal basis for these vigilantes to be patrolling our streets? If members of the public were taking matters into their own hands with any other crime we would be up in arms.’