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Police double the money they pocket from speeding drivers
By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent 8:58AM GMT 06 Nov 2015

Number of people attending National Speed Awareness courses more than doubles to 1.19 million and police forces can keep £100 charge per person

Police refuse to carry out speed checks on deadly road
Drivers could be fined for doing 71mph on stretches of the M1
Photo: Alamy

Police have more than doubled the amount they collect from running speed awareness courses since 2010, despite a warning from ministers to stop raising revenue from speeding offences.

While the money collected from speeding fines goes to the Treasury, police forces are able to keep what they charge for running speed awareness courses, around £100 a time.

The vast majority of motorists prefer this option over a fine because they avoid having points added to their licence, and thereby keep their insurance premiums down.

“Speed cameras are for safety and reducing dangerous driving, not raising cash."
Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of people attending such courses, as forces across the country recognise the financial benefits.

In 2010 the number of people attending National Speed Awareness courses was 447,724, but by last year that figure had more than doubled to 1.19 million.

Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has condemned plans by one police force to raise revenue by fining all speeding drivers, even if they are over the limit by just 1mph.

Olly Martins hopes the scheme would be up and running by April next yearOlly Martins the PCC for Bedfordshire has sparked anger amongst motorists

Bedfordshire Police threatened to switch on automatic speed cameras on a stretch of the M1 and to fine any motorist who exceeds 70mph.

Olly Martins, the Police and Crime Commissioner for the area, claimed he had been left no alternative but to introduce the system, because his force was facing financial ruin.

Mr Martins claimed his force could raise up to £1 million a year, allowing him to pay for 25 front-line officers.

“It’s a choice between doing things like this and reducing the size of the police force.”
Olly Martins, Bedfordshire PCC

But Mr McLoughlin said the plan was in flagrant breach of official guidelines that said speed cameras should only be used to improve road safety and not to raise revenue.

He added: "Speed cameras are for safety and reducing dangerous driving, not raising cash. They should be located where there is likely to be a risk." Mr Martins told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a choice between doing things like this and reducing the size of the police force."

He added: "It's the Government that is leaving me with no alternative but measures like these. We've been telling them about the predicament that Bedfordshire Police is in for years now."