‘Long ranger’ cop cam traps drivers from 1km away

A POLICE force has unveiled its latest weapon – a gigantic speed camera dubbed “The Long Ranger”.

The huge gun, the biggest in Britain, can film a car from 1,000m away and chiefs hope it will help combat offences including speeding, tailgating and using mobile phones.

Experts say that even in daylight the human eye could not spot it at a distance of a kilometre, meaning drivers would not have time to slow down.

The camera has been showcased by police in Gloucester at the launch of a pilot project called Operation Indemnis.

Its hi-tech Canon 100-400mm lens not only detects how fast vehicles are going but produces clear video footage and still photographs of the people inside them. If the pilot is successful, it could be applied to any road in Gloucestershire.

The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said: “The aim is not just to penalise motorists but to uphold the law by creating a change in people’s behaviour.”

The pilot is focused on the A417 and A419, a major strategic route linking Gloucestershire with Wiltshire that can carry up to 35,000 vehicles a day.

The Long Ranger will be used alongside automatic number plate recognition to check up on vehicles.

Some drivers will be prosecuted while others will be let off with just advice.