Southport Visiter

Get switched on, speed camera campaigner­s tell police

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ALMOST two out of every three speed cameras in Merseyside are not switched on, according to new figures.

According to a Freedom of Informatio­n (FoI) request submitted by the Press Associatio­n, only 13 of Merseyside’s 35 fixed speed cameras were actually operationa­l.

This means that 65% were completely out of action when the figures were compiled, letting speeding drivers off the hook.

In neighbouri­ng Lancashire, all 21 cameras were working at the time of the request.

The Press Associatio­n submitted the FoI requests to police forces around the country and, of the 36 which responded, four revealed that no fixed speed cameras were working at all.

These were Cleveland, Durham, North Yorkshire, and Northampto­n.

The FoI request only referred to fixed speed cameras and did not include mobile devices used by police forces.

The money obtained from speeding fines goes to the Treasury – although it used to go directly to local police forces.

Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said: “A staggering 1,800 people lost their lives on British roads last year and speeding is a factor in thousands of crashes.

“Speed cameras are a proven, cost-effective way of reducing deadly collisions and so it’s critical they are operationa­l.

“We are concerned to see figures which suggest so many are switched off and would urge they are urgently put back into action.”

Merseyside police were approached for comment.

But Chief Constable Andy Cooke warned over the summer that the force was facing “unpreceden­ted challenges” after suffering “draconian cuts”.

 ??  ?? Only 13 speed cameras are working in Merseyside, according to a Freedom of Informatio­n request
Only 13 speed cameras are working in Merseyside, according to a Freedom of Informatio­n request

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