Speeding equipment is ‘reliable’

A decision to stop officers in Scotland using handheld speed detecting equipment because of interference with radio equipment has been reversed.

Fears that the Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder (Vascar) system could be affected by police radio waves had meant that officers were being advised not to use the Vascar system near to Airwave terminals.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has since sought advice and the Home Office Scientfic Development Branch has said that when the guidelines set out are correctly followed by officers there is no possibility of interference.

ACPOS said that the equipment had been tested and found to operate properly under the appropriate guidelines.

Chief Constable Kevin Smith, chair of the road policing business area of ACPOS, said: “We are confident that the speed detection equipment being used by Scottish forces is reliable and as such we have advised forces that it should be used as normal.

“We took the precaution of advising forces of a potential issue with the equipment and have now clarified the situation.”