Focus on saving lives, not just on making money

APOLICE boss is seeking assurances that speed cameras will not be used as a money-making cash cow.

Julian Sandham, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, says it should be made clear the purpose of the Go Safe scheme is to reduce casualties and save lives.

Mr Sandham and his boss, Commissioner Winston Roddick, have written expressing their views to the chief lead officer for the Welsh Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, Carl Langley, the Deputy Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police.

They fear that Go Safe may be putting too much prominence on “income generation”.

A study is now being conducted in North Wales to see if Go Safe could be made more effective.

Mr Sandham said: “I am aware of public concern that the speed cameras are being used as revenue raising machines.

“I think it’s important that the Go Safe business plan stresses that the priority is the reduction of casualties. There is clearly an enabling infrastructure that underpins all that, but the priority of minimising casualties on the roads in Wales and specifically for us North Wales is important.

“Having read the 201516 business plan document, there are certain areas where you could conclude that the income generation side of things is prominent. In my opinion it should be made clear that the context is minimising of casualties.

“I think we could get more of the general public on side if that message was loud and clear because I think the major-

Julian Sandham ity of reasonable people would agree we need to tackle problems where they exist and make our roads safer.

“We are undertaking a piece of scrutiny work with regard to this issue and when it is complete we will be talking to the force about our findings.

“I would stress, however, there is a great deal of good practice happening already in North Wales.

“Likewise, we have been assured by the Force that deployments are not exclusively aligned to sites which have a history of collisions. Some deployments take place to prevent and reduce the likelihood of collisions, where following analysis they are considered necessary.

“I’m certainly not advocating that we should get rid of speed cameras because used intelligently they have an important role to play.

“What I’m advocating is that we should be using Go Safe to its best effect which is reducing casualties on our roads.

“We have communicated with Carl Langley to remind him of the proposals we made at the last meeting of the All-Wales Policing Group.”