Safe Speed Forums

http://www.motorbar.co.uk/talk6.htm

It’s policing, Jim, but not as we know it!

Amongst recent news about loophole acquittals in motoring cases are a couple of quite extraordinary claims.

Firstly there's the claim that (in the BBC's words): "And police say they will be keeping a close eye on drivers who they think have been wrongly acquitted of crimes." As Wednesday wore on, the absurd and illegitimate nature of this suggestion became clear and ACPO's spokespersons seemed to back away from it.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign (www.safespeed.org.uk) says: "The idea that the Police can determine those 'unjustly acquitted' is as absurd as it is abhorrent. We have courts to determine guilt or innocence according to law. But now, apparently, if we are acquitted in court we can expect to be followed around by Police who arrogantly believe that they know better than the courts. It's policing, but not as we know it."

Secondly there's the promise of a two man team comprising 'a lawyer and a former police officer to help prosecute speed camera cases.' It looks like they will have their work cut out because:

* Speed camera cases in court 2004: 127,100 (latest Home office figures)

* Around 250 court days in a year

* Implies over 500 cases a day

And that's before you consider around 150,000 cases each year under 'Section 172' where someone has 'failed to identify the driver' at the time of an alleged offence.

Paul Smith continued: "Clearly ACPO are in a panic about something or other. I presume that the courts simply don't have the time to deal with thousands upon thousands of pointless speeding cases. And ACPO's solution? Blow hot air in the vain hope that motorists will be too intimidated to defend themselves. It's polic-ing, but not as we know it. It's bluff and intimidation. It seeks to deny our right to justice. It might even be 'attempting to pervert the course of justice'. Beyond that it isn't even going to work.

"Surely they have noticed by now that speed cameras aren't making the roads safer? Surely the easy solution, even for ACPO, is to back out of the failed speed camera programme?

"I urge all drivers who may have a legitimate defence to their speeding ticket to demand their day in court. Call their bluff. Do not be intimidated. Above all, demand your right to justice."

***

This was largely a straight copy of our PR355 but I was gladdened to see the word 'Jim' added to the headline.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety