Police defend speed checks (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Police defend speed checks

3:03pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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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."

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