OPCC ANNUAL REPORT
The ‘Long eye of the law’ making its presence felt
It has been christened ‘The long eye of the law’. The long range camera used by Gloucestershire Police is the response to the many complaints from the public about dangerous and anti-social driving on one of Gloucestershire’s busiest roads, and it’s had an immediate impact. The‘Long Ranger’, as it’s also been called, was originally launched during an operation on the A417/419, a major strategic route carrying up to 35,000 vehicles a day which links Gloucestershire with neighbouring Wiltshire and is a pathway between the M4 and M5 motorways. It also has one of the worst accident records. In its first month, well over 1,000 speeding offences were recorded, with the worst offender clocked at 126 mph. Other offences too have been captured on film. At the time of publication, the number of speeding offences has risen to nearly 5,000. The camera was deployed at 128 different sites along the A417 from November – March. Tailgating, the use of a mobile phone, vehicle plate offences and failure to use a seatbelt are among the other offences recorded as follows: • Speeding - 4,839 offences detected, of which 33 were speeding at 100mph or more (highest 126mph)
who needed help for other reasons - all in line with commitments made in the Police and Crime Plan. “Part of my job is to react to what the public tell me and I probably get more messages about road safety concerns than anything else. Many people have come to me with their concerns about speeding and other safety issues on the A417 and elsewhere. “My Police and Crime Plan has always been about creating a change of culture on our roads. Making them safer, naturally, but also affecting the way drivers relate to the law and each other”, said PCC Martin Surl l
• Seatbelt offences - 289 • Tailgating (due care) - 42 • Use of mobile phone – 21 • Vehicle plates - 133
But it is not just the long lens camera that is making a difference. The enforcement unit has doubled in size and, for the first time ever, over 100 areas identified by local people as‘community concern’ sites – sometimes referred to as ‘accident black spots’ - are now on the police radar. Police officers have also been on hand to give assistance to drivers who broke down and others
70 | September 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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