Community Speed Watch
Northumbria Police is expanding its successful Volunteer Community Speed Watch scheme across Northumberland following its success in Rothbury.
The scheme is run in partnership with Northumbria Police and Safer Northumberland and allows local people to help reduce traffic speeds.
Volunteers are given training, support and specialist equipment to monitor the speed of cars.
Anybody found speeding will then receive a police and community letter, letting them know that people in the area won’t tolerate speeding.
Rothbury volunteers where the first to pilot the scheme.
Questions you may have:
How does Speed Watch work?
Community Speed Watch aims to make motorists aware that the community won’t tolerate speeding. It’s about taking positive action, with local people working together to improve the safety and quality of life for everyone in the area.
Volunteers will set up the watch in a designated spot, using measuring equipment to record the speed of passing vehicles. Details will be noted of any vehicles found to be speeding.
Working with the local neighbourhood policing team, a letter is then sent to motorists about their speeding. If the same driver is identified as speeding in the area a number of times then officers will make contact with the driver and action may be taken.
Do other areas use Speed Watch?
Other police forces have tried and adopted the scheme after successful pilot schemes, including Durham, Thames Valley, Leicestershire and Norfolk.
The scheme will now be expanded to cover Morpeth, Berwick, Alnwick and Hexham.
Why is Northumbria expanding Speed Watch?
Speeding is a concern for many people, especially in the popular towns and villages of Northumberland. Speed Watch is one way of helping to address this concern.
The main objectives are to reduce speed to prevent collisions, improve the quality of life for people in the area and to raise public awareness of inappropriate speed.
Shouldn’t police officers be out doing this?
Community Speed Watch is just one way of addressing resident’s concerns about speeding in their area. By enabling local volunteers to monitor speeds, they’re able to take some responsibility for helping improve life in their community.
The Neighbourhood Policing Team works closely with volunteers to help them do this and of course the help from volunteers means officers have more time to work on other initiatives.
It’s important that the letters motorists receive come from the community as well as the police – it shows that local people won’t tolerate speeding in their towns and villages.
What action will be taken against people found speeding?
A police and community letter will be sent out to anybody recorded speeding.
If a driver is found to be speeding a number of times, police officers will visit the driver and further action may be taken.
How do I apply?
If you’re interested in becoming a Community Speed Watch volunteer in any of the areas the scheme is expanding into you can attend one of the information events below. To request an application pack call 0191 221 9111 or Email.
Events are being held on:
Monday 15, April, Cheviot Centre in Wooler, 6pm to 8pm
Tuesday16 April, at Bell View Centre in Belford, 6pm to 8pm
Tuesday 23, April, at Hadston House, 4pm to 6pm and Pegswood Miners Welfare, 7pm to 9pm
Wednesday, 24 April, Hepscott Village Hall, 4pm to 6pm and Middleton Village Hall, 7pm to 9pm
Monday 29, April at Jubilee Hall, Rothbury, 6pm to 7.30pm
Tuesday 30, April, The Plough, Powburn, 6pm to 7.30pm
Events will also be held in East and West Tynedale. Dates and Venues.
