We have issued the following press release:

“As Chancellor George Osbourne cancels plans to cut police funding we call upon Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins to immediately withdraw threats to make up the police budget by using zero tolerance enforcement of the 70mph motorway limit.  PCC Martins planned to use cameras intended to enforce variable limits at times of congestion, switching them on at 70MPH and using the increased profits (over and above the profits his force already make from speed cameras) to make up the shortfall in funding. We call on the government to urgently enshrine in law National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC – formerly ACPO) guidelines that a tolerance of 10%+ 2mph be applied to all speed enforcement and for police to be banned from misusing variable limit cameras intended only to reduce congestion on motorways to enforce the 70mph limit.”

Note that the corruption of the police force by drivers paying to avoid prosecution has been covered in our past newsletters and the legal issues associated with this practice are being actively examined.

Roger Lawson