Launch of Community Speedwatch scheme across Thames Valley
Following the success of a pilot scheme earlier this year, a Community Speedwatch scheme has launched across Thames Valley this week. The pilot, which ran in small areas of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, was so successful the whole of Thames Valley can now take part with the hope of reducing speeding in our communities.
Championed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, new Speedwatch groups are being invited to take part in activities to both tackle and improve road safety across the region. As part of this work, they will have the opportunity to borrow speed detection equipment and devices, helping trained volunteers to assist in the battle against speeding motorists.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “I want to embed Community Speedwatch as a core part of Thames Valley’s response to road safety. The work that the volunteers of this scheme do is vital to the wider strategy to keep everyone safe on our roads.
“We’re delighted with how the pilots have gone and that we can now open up this scheme to the rest of the Thames Valley. Community Speedwatch is just part of a strategy to keep us all safe. The data gathered by Community Speedwatch will now be immediately visible to roads policing officers. The results from this work will lead into enforcement action by the police, and even notify the DVLA of breaches that fall within their jurisdiction.
“Undoubtedly the work of the volunteers on this scheme, in collaboration with Thames Valley Police, is helping to save lives and keep people safe.”
PC Lee Turnham, Thames Valley Police Community Speedwatch Co-ordinator, said: “Following a successful pilot period earlier this year, where we trialled a new system, the online training and support of volunteers has enabled us to capture important data which in turn has helped police activity.
“The pilot scheme has been running since April and has proven to be a platform of which individuals and the Police are able to work seamlessly. To that end, I am really pleased that the new platform will now be rolled out across Thames Valley within the next three months.”
Before community teams are able to attend the roadside, they undergo a number of training sessions, to ensure risk assessments have been completed and protocols have been adhered to.
