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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police speed detectors 'reliable' | Police speed detectors 'reliable' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police have reversed a decision to stop traffic officers in Scotland using handheld speed detecting equipment. | Police have reversed a decision to stop traffic officers in Scotland using handheld speed detecting equipment. |
| There had been fears the Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder (Vascar) system could be affected by police radio waves. | There had been fears the Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder (Vascar) system could be affected by police radio waves. |
| But the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said Home Office scientists had now confirmed that they were reliable. | But the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said Home Office scientists had now confirmed that they were reliable. |
| Acpos has reversed the initial advice to stop using the handheld devices. | Acpos has reversed the initial advice to stop using the handheld devices. |
| Road policing units had been told to employ alternatives to the system until further notice. | Road policing units had been told to employ alternatives to the system until further notice. |
| It had been suggested police radios could be causing faults in the speed detectors. We took the precaution of advising forces of a potential issue with the equipment and have now clarified the situation Chief Constable Kevin SmithAcpos | It had been suggested police radios could be causing faults in the speed detectors. We took the precaution of advising forces of a potential issue with the equipment and have now clarified the situation Chief Constable Kevin SmithAcpos |
| However, Acpos said it had now received advice from the Home Office Scientific Development Branch that there was no possibility of interference when guidelines were followed by officers. | However, Acpos said it had now received advice from the Home Office Scientific Development Branch that there was no possibility of interference when guidelines were followed by officers. |
| Acpos said that the equipment had been tested and found to operate properly under the appropriate guidelines. | Acpos said that the equipment had been tested and found to operate properly under the appropriate guidelines. |
| Chief Constable Kevin Smith, chairman of the road policing business area of Acpos, said: "We are confident that the speed detection equipment being used by Scottish forces is reliable and as such we have advised forces that it should be used as normal. | Chief Constable Kevin Smith, chairman of the road policing business area of Acpos, said: "We are confident that the speed detection equipment being used by Scottish forces is reliable and as such we have advised forces that it should be used as normal. |
| "We took the precaution of advising forces of a potential issue with the equipment and have now clarified the situation." | "We took the precaution of advising forces of a potential issue with the equipment and have now clarified the situation." |
| Vascar is a relatively basic speed measuring system operated manually by an officer. | Vascar is a relatively basic speed measuring system operated manually by an officer. |
| Two landmarks are selected, such as a lamppost and a sign, and the distance between the objects is calculated. The time it takes for a vehicle to travel between the two sites is then measured. | Two landmarks are selected, such as a lamppost and a sign, and the distance between the objects is calculated. The time it takes for a vehicle to travel between the two sites is then measured. |
| The officer presses a button as the vehicle passes the first landmark, and again as it passes the second to determine its speed. | The officer presses a button as the vehicle passes the first landmark, and again as it passes the second to determine its speed. |