"Lancashire Telegraph! - (Page Three)
Quote:
A vigilante anti-speed group today warned that it was targetting devices in East Lancashire.
Motorists Against Detection (MAD) is led by campaigns director "Captain Gatso who has gained
national notoriety disguising his identity by wearing A Tony Blair mask 
.
I think the paper got that just a bit wrong..
Quote:
Captain Gatso has declared zero tolerance against all speed cameras after the group admitted blowing up one in Bacup yesterday
(There is a photo of poor PC Gatso in Bacup looking very battered and in the woes )
Quote:
Captain Gatso said a member of his group (over 200 members..
) filled a tyre with petrol and attached a chain before throwing it over the camera in Rochdale Road at about 3. 30 a.m.
The MAD members use internet chatrooms, encrypted e-mail and pay as you go mobiles to keep in touch and plan campaigns.
Well that narrows it down a bit
Don't agree with this sort of thing but where I feel deep anger at vandalism.. somehow I do not feel the anger at the act of destroying the camera - more an anger at an undermining of a more sensible approach to ridding or reducing the over-reliance on the cams.
Quote:
Captain Gatso - a family man from London and who has a professional career said
"We are orchestrating a campaing everywhere, including East Lancashire which will see more cameras targetted.
I had an e-mail to say the camera had bee targetted by one of our group
We say the money spent on cameras would be better spent paying for police to patrol the streets"
Several Lancashire cameras have been targetted in recent years - including the one in New Church Road, Stacksteads and Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall.
John Davies- Lancashire Prat Manager blasted MAD's actions as "preposterous and damaging.
Hmmm! All I can say is ... get some officers patrolling the areas. That way - you give Captain Gatso what he wants .. police on the road .. and you get to save PC Gatso as well
.. and drivers, of course, will be vigilant speed-wise because of the cop car
In the meantime .. back to Regression to the Mean and COAST approach - which is also supported by Lancs Road Safety Pratnership too
But have to say ..
MAD's approach simply undermines the more subtle campaigns and futile as they will just be even more draconian in revenue raising to replace the darned thing anyway
Not the way to negotiate or argue the case against the cams.
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