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More traffic police officers call Extra traffic police needed - MPs
(about 6 hours later)
Britain's roads need more police officers to enforce traffic laws, a report by MPs is expected to warn. Britain's roads need more speed cameras and more police to reduce the number of accidents, a report by MPs has warned.
The Transport Select Committee will say there are fewer officers on patrol and fewer breath tests being taken, but more people being injured or killed. The Transport Select Committee said traffic police had been marginalised, adding: "Technology must support road police officers, not replace them."
However, the MPs will also argue that there should be more speed cameras to help the police. The MPs criticised rules that allow cameras to be sited only where there is a record of deaths or serious injuries.
Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said cameras were a useful tool but could not replace officers. But the transport department said those rules were changed in April and local authorities now have more flexibility.
The report, Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, is expected to call for a change in emphasis because money from fines is spent on more cameras. The changes meant local officials could now look at all accidents over a longer period when deciding where speed cameras should be placed, a department spokeswoman said.
And Ms Dunwoody, a Labour MP, said senior officers often cut traffic policing to help to balance their budgets. 'Well-accepted'
Camera rules The report, Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, called for new technologies to be approved more rapidly.
She warned that declining numbers of officers on patrol had led to fewer breath tests, but there has been many more casualties because of drink-driving. It highlighted the "alcolocks" system - whereby a car is immobilised if the driver has had alcohol - as one which should be introduced as soon as possible.
We are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy Government statement
Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said it was clear that speed cameras were "effective, good value for money, and well-accepted by the public".
But Ms Dunwoody, a Labour MP, said senior officers often cut traffic policing to help balance their budgets.
She warned that declining numbers of officers on patrol had led to fewer breath tests - but over the same time period the number of drink-driving casualties had risen.
"You can't assume that a camera is going to replace somebody who can assess when a driver has been drinking or has been taking drugs that make them unable to drive," she said."You can't assume that a camera is going to replace somebody who can assess when a driver has been drinking or has been taking drugs that make them unable to drive," she said.
"Many local people could tell you, there are very difficult areas where we think that a speed camera could make all the difference."Many local people could tell you, there are very difficult areas where we think that a speed camera could make all the difference.
"It's a good tool ... but don't assume that it's automatically going to replace a policeman.""It's a good tool ... but don't assume that it's automatically going to replace a policeman."
The government has already said fines will be spent on more safety measures than just cameras next year. Careful consideration
Opponents have bitterly criticised the emphasis on electronic policing. In a joint statement, the Home Office and Department for Transport said the number of dedicated traffic officers had actually increased since 2002.
Currently, cameras can only be installed in areas where there is a record of deaths and serious injuries. "Technology enhances police officers' work, allowing them to do their job better and more quickly," the statement said.
The MPs are expected to call for relaxation of that rule. "But we are quite clear that technology alone cannot meet all the aims of the road policing strategy and we would not expect it to."
The departments said they would consider the committee's recommendations carefully.