Today's most viewed
Police defend speed checks
POLICE have hit back after being criticised for putting too many resources into catching speeding motorists.
The criticism came after officers made checks with hand-held radar devices in Worthy Road, Winchester, on Friday, July 11.
The district's top policeman, Chief Inspector Steve France-Sargeant, said they did so because residents identified road safety as a major concern.
But some claim that police time would be better spent elsewhere.
Police caught more than 20 motorists driving too fast in their latest crackdown - five were given penalty tickets, and a further 16 were cautioned.
The exercise was part of Operation Focus, which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour at weekends in the district.
Ch Insp France-Sargeant said the campaign was drawn up after speaking to residents' groups, parish councils, and community associations.
The consultation involved suggestion boxes being placed across the district, and several visits to remote areas by mobile police stations.
He added that anti-social behaviour - often connected to underage drinking and drug taking - was identified as one of the two top priorities. The other was speeding and illegal parking.
Chief Insp France-Sargeant said: "Statistically the Winchester district suffers from a hugely disproportionate number of serious road accidents causing death and serious injury.
"This year we were one of the few districts in the country to recognise that, and we need to prioritise this issue in order to make our communities safer."
Winchester City Council data earlier this year showed there were 222 serious road accidents in the district within the previous 18 months. The national average for an area of its size would be 128.
Chief Insp France-Sargeant said: "I am concerned that although we are complying with community demands there are members of the public who have criticised or expressed disappointment in the police targeting rowdy behaviour and motorists.
"It is important that the wider community is informed as to why we are conducting such a focus.
"These are all policing activities that Winchester district communities have asked us to provide, and are essentially above and beyond the day-to-day police business of responding to and investigating crime."
*What do you think? Add your comments below.
3:03pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Philip Ross, Teg Down, Winchester on 3:27pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Can I suggest that they move to Teg Down Meads and catch some of the lunatics that drive up and down from early morning to late evening. Despite many complaints from residents nothing at all has been done presumably because no one has been killed yet.
Can I suggest that they move to Teg Down Meads and catch some of the lunatics that drive up and down from early morning to late evening. Despite many complaints from residents nothing at all has been done presumably because no one has been killed yet.
Posted by: Not accountable, Winchester on 4:27pm Tue 22 Jul 08
I am the first to admit I am not a great fan of the police. BUT the speeding traffic on Worthy Road is a real danger. More speed traps please!
I am the first to admit I am not a great fan of the police. BUT the speeding traffic on Worthy Road is a real danger. More speed traps please!
Posted by: John, Hampshire on 11:09pm Tue 22 Jul 08
Speeding shows no regard for other people. At its lowest level it is just anti-social, intimidating other road users. At its worst it kills, maims and wrecks lives.
Too few get caught and even less get anywhere near the punishment they deserve.
Speeding shows no regard for other people. At its lowest level it is just anti-social, intimidating other road users. At its worst it kills, maims and wrecks lives.
Too few get caught and even less get anywhere near the punishment they deserve.
Posted by: Safe driver, Winchester on 2:52pm Fri 25 Jul 08
I think the council have made worthy road more dangerous by adding the islands in such a way that you have to swerve around them. This actually reduces road safety as you are concentrating on avoiding what feels like an obstruction, and potentially not spotting a child on the edge of the pavement. Also most accidents are caused by people not paying attention, NOT due to excessive speed (although it is important to drive slowly, sometimes well below the speed limit, where conditions / surroundings necessitate). People who mindlessly complain about speeders are just blaming an easy target.
I think the council have made worthy road more dangerous by adding the islands in such a way that you have to swerve around them. This actually reduces road safety as you are concentrating on avoiding what feels like an obstruction, and potentially not spotting a child on the edge of the pavement. Also most accidents are caused by people not paying attention, NOT due to excessive speed (although it is important to drive slowly, sometimes well below the speed limit, where conditions / surroundings necessitate). People who mindlessly complain about speeders are just blaming an easy target.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
