POLICING THE UK ROADS

Meredydd Hughes QPM

ACPO Head of Roads Policing

ACPO Roads Policing Strategy

• Jointly agreed with Department for Transport and the Home Office

• Sets Roads Policing in the context of overall police work

• Establishes continuing priorities for Roads Policing

• Identifies principles which should underpin operational practice and policy development

Roads Policing Focus

• Denying criminals use of the roads by enforcing the law

• Reducing road casualties

• Tackling the threat of terrorism

• Reducing anti-social use of the roads

• Enhancing public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads

UK Casualty Reduction Targets 2010

• 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road collisions compared with the average for 1994-98

• 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured

• 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres

Casualty Trends - Fatalities

Killed

2900

3000

3100

3200

3300

3400

3500

3600

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Killed

Casualty Trends - KSI

KSI

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

KSI

Casualty Trends - Slight Injury

Slight Injury

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Slight Injury

Traffic Volume Trend

Billion Traffic Kilometres

430

440

450

460

470

480

490

500

510

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Billion TrafficKilometres

Significant Factors of Unlawful, Disorderly and Dangerous Road

and Vehicle Use

• Drinking and Drug Driving

• Speeding

• Failure to use seat belts

• Driving which is dangerous, careless or threatening to other road users

Casualty Reduction Strategy

• Education

• Enforcement

• Engineering

• Evaluation

Education

• Roadside intervention and advice

• Partnership working with Local Authorities

• DfT Think! campaigns targeting– Drink/Drug driving– Speeding– Seat Belts– Mobile phones– Young road users

Enforcement• Roadside enforcement by police patrols• Multi-agency enforcement campaigns with

– VOSA– HM Revenue and Customs– Border and Immigration Agency– Department for Work and Pensions– DEFRA

• Safety Camera Partnerships targeting speed reduction

Enforcement Data:Offenders Dealt With in 1 Year

• Drink/Drug Driving - 107,234

• Speed Limit Offences - 2,104,808

• Mobile Phone Offences - 71,272

• Seat Belt Offences - 194,453

• Dangerous/Careless Driving - 149,133

Engineering

• Responding to KSI sites with engineering solutions

• Making roads safer at the design and planning stage

• Partnership working with Local Authorities

Road Safety Support –the new approach to

supporting Road Policing

New Road Safety Support Office

• Road Safety Support - a private not for profit organisation.

• Brings together for the first time various functions emphasising the importance attached to Road Safety / Policing within the UK.

• Funding through all the Safety Camera Partnerships and Highway Authorities.

Functions of the office

• A new national database that contains everything to do with Road Safety and Road Policing in one location.

• Defending the integrity of enforcement equipment and Home Office Type Approval process with CPS seconded lawyers.

• Media Co-ordination and support in conjunction with the ACPO Press Office.

Functions of the Office

• Technical support for enforcement equipment.• Co-ordination of future programme support for

Safety Camera Partnerships.• Dissemination of good practice.• Managing all new equipment Type Approvals.• Developing operational road policing guidance

and policies in association with ACPO.

Functions of the Office

• Working with the Highways Agency to develop a consistent approach to enforcement across the strategic road network.

• Working to co-ordinate a better approach to the use of intelligence gained through Safety Cameras to deny criminals use of the road.

• Real time telephone support for all Road Safety professionals.

Summary

• Clear strategic lead from ACPO, Home Office and department of Transport

• Growing enforcement doctrine and legislation

• Debate over development

• ACPO and partners – a new structure

• Growing understanding that Roads Policing matters

• But – greater demands than ever!

POLICING THE UK ROADS

Meredydd Hughes QPM

ACPO Head of Roads Policing