Dramatic fall in road policing officers as traffic laws increase

ROADS policing officer numbers are down a third in spite of almost half of Britain’s motorists admitting to a scant regard for traffic laws.

New data puts full-time traffic police totals at 3,742 in 2015 – plunging by 30 per cent from the 2010 figure of 5,327 officers.

The plummeting figures come as a raft of new motoring legislation – for offences connected with roadside drug-driving, HGV speed limits, lane-hogging and tailgating – has been introduced.

The dramatic fall is three times faster than the decline in overall officer numbers – down less than ten per cent from 143,734 to 129,987 in the same period – which can be blamed on £2.3 billion budget reductions.

Out of the 42 forces in England and Wales that have dedicated traffic units, 36 have less staff than they did five years ago, according to the Auto Express figures.

The City of London Police traffic officers are now attached to standard patrols rather than working independently.

West Midlands Police saw the biggest fall – down two thirds from 352 to 115 officers – while the Metropolitan Police Service actually saw an increase in numbers.

Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, said it was down to individual forces to decide how best to allocate resources and keep their communities safe.

“Some may choose to reduce the numbers of specialist traffic officers, but this does not necessarily mean their roads are not adequately policed.

They can deploy a range of resources, including specialist modern technology, and use public information reports and guidance about road offenders,” she said.

“All police officers are available to help those who are traffic policing specialists when needed. Every chief constable is accountable and takes good care to ensure road users in their area are kept as safe as possible.”

The news comes as separate research, also conducted by the motoring publication, revealed that two out of three of all driving convictions in England and Wales are for speeding.

In April last year, leading road safety charity Brake called for roads policing to be made a priority after a report revealed nearly 50 per cent of all motorists disregard traffic laws.

While in 2014, the RAC report on motoring estimated that 60 per cent of drivers felt there were not enough police on the roads.