Two Shropshire villages have been given radar guns by the police in a bid to stop speeding drivers hurtling past their homes, it was revealed today.
Residents will take action against drivers in Shawbury and Hadnall who break the limit.
The equipment has been bought by the police amid fears about road safety. A similar community speed watch scheme was introduced in Wem last month.
Police spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk today confirmed the scheme had been rolled out to the two villages and said following just four sessions on roads in Wem, 19 letters had been sent to speeding motorists.
People ignoring speed limits could face an £80 fine, three points on their driving licence or a possible ban.
Residents using the radar gun, which monitors vehicles and their speed, pass the information to the police who issue a warning letter.
Two letters can be sent and police will then take action after three offences.
Miss Hawkaluk said: “Speeding drivers was identified as a major issue for residents at police and community meetings and local police made a pledge to tackle the problem with the help of the public.
“Schemes, which involve members of the public noting the registrations of vehicles caught breaking the speed limit have been set up in Hadnall, Wem and Shawbury. In just four sessions in Wem, 19 letters had been sent out up to April 23.
“And with the volunteers increasing the number of sessions they are out on the road, this number is expected to increase.”
Sergeant Julian Hinds, whose officers have been instrumental in setting up the schemes, said the response had been positive from residents.
3 Comments
I bet the ‘enforcers’ would’nt be so keen to take on the local louts.
I don’t like louts either, but louts didn’t kill over 3,000 or seriously injure 28,000 people last year.
See my comments re “Residents to get speed guns” dated 22 May 07.
This is a dubious area for third parties and any intended prosecution based on these observations is fraught with legal pitfalls. Is the operator able to demonstrate prior opinion (in a short time frame), in addition to the other basic listed requirements?
With microwaves (as with the LTI 20-20) there are slippage issues, reflections, secondary doppler effects, scatter, diffraction, accuracy of footprint, etc. Lots to dispute in Court on the basis of third party “evidence”.