Safe Speed Forums

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3804179

'Speeders' Invited to Appeal Against Convictions

By Hugo Duncan, PA


A police force run by the ?the godfather of the speed camera? told motorists today to appeal against speeding convictions.

North Wales Police posted letters to 6,500 people caught speeding on the region?s roads, telling them that the case against them may have been flawed.

The letters were approved by chief constable Richard Brunstrom, the Association of Chief Police Officers? head of road policing, who has caused controversy with his tough anti-speeding policy.

In the past he has branded speeders ?criminals? and ?anti-social?. He even backed the prosecution of a paramedic caught speeding in an ambulance.

In March, he was branded ?the godfather of the speed camera? by Police magazine, the official publication of the Police Federation in England and Wales.

But in today?s letter, his force admitted that motorists summonsed to court since June 6 last year may have been wrongly convicted.

It followed a hearing at Mold Crown Court in October which ruled that some statements did not comply with legal requirements because signatures by police officers had been scanned.

A police spokeswoman said: ?In those cases, if the officer operating the camera did not attend court to give evidence and the statement was read to the court, then those affected have the right to have their cases reopened.?

Superintendent Michele Williams, the force?s head of criminal justice, said: ?In the interests of transparency and fairness, we are writing to everyone who has received a summons since the procedure for scanning officer signatures was introduced.

?Whilst not everyone who receives a letter is directly affected, I believed that people deserve clarity in respect of their position. My letter aims to give them that clarity.

?We suspended the use of scanned officer signatures immediately following the judgment and officers now physically read and sign their statements.

?North Wales Police will continue to explore the use of technology in preparing case files in order to reduce the administrative burden on police officers and free them for patrol.?

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

I'll bet the letters that go out have scanned signatures...

Does that mean those who coughed up the fixed penalty can not contest their fine?

Signatures being 'scanned' is really a euphamism for signatures being forged. Let's call it what it is.

Safespeed- this may not be the right place to draw your attention to this item, or indeed you may have seen it- but just in case you havent -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/4052021.stm

from bbc news on 29/11 - speed campaign not saving lives,


""Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones said evidence shows that the Arrive Alive scheme has not saved lives.

Mr Jones also expressed concern at the 6,500 motorists that he said have been wrongly prosecuted by the force. "
- this is part of item, basically slates "arrive alive " campaign.