Page 15 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2020_Neat

Roads policing:

have your say

Federation members should make the most
of an opportunity to help shape the future of
roads policing, says West Midlands Police
Federation deputy secretary Tim Rogers.
Tim, who is the national Federation lead
on response driving, has successfully
campaigned for a change in the law to give
‘We need police drivers better protection in law and is
also seeking legislative reform that will give
officers the power to make someone get out
re-investment’ of their vehicle following a police stop.
But he now wants as many officers as

possible to contribute to a call for evidence
launched by the Department for Transport
(Dft) as part of a review of roads policing also
involving the National Police Chiefs’ Council
There needs to be a reinvestment in roads mean by that is not that traffic officers and the Home Office.
policing to allow more officers to move into should avoid crime but in that courses are Tim believes the fact that there has been
this specialist area. fewer, training is poor and the attitude of no significant fall in the number of people
That is the view of a member of the some newer officers, but not all, is not killed or seriously injured on the nation’s
West Midlands roads policing unit (RPU) traffic-orientated. roads in the last 10 years means roads
with almost 20 years’ service under his belt. “The traffic officer basics are not policing has to be prioritised and that the
“I’m forever being told by family and understood by newer officers, what was review could lead to a re-investment in an
friends that you don’t see many traffic once dealt with by one department has under-resourced area.
officers on the roads anymore. We do need been split into several departments “It is a shocking reality that there are
more specialist roads policing officers but although some of this is a good idea - SCIU/ currently around 1,800 deaths a year on our
newer traffic officers should also be given road harm. roads. When you take into account that is
training and input into investigation and “But technology, equipment and vehicles twice the number of deaths from homicides
upskilled with a vehicle examiner’s course, – with ANPR, digital cameras and mobile and acts of terrorism combined you get an
PG9, driving grades,” he said. devices - and dedicated SCIU and FLO have idea of the scale of the problem we have,”
“Road policing, in my opinion, is an improved - although some would argue this says Tim.
important part of policing. Everyone uses deskills officers in some areas of “The cuts to policing have had a
the roads and focus should be given to this investigation.” devastating impact on the police service as a
area. Traffic officers should not be dragged The most challenging parts of the role, whole but they have been particularly felt in
away to deal with other areas of policing he said, is case times taking years not roads policing where the number of
unless there is an operational need. Bearing months now, with sentences given still dedicated officers has fallen, in relative
in mind we had 21 OCUs with under par for the offences, coping with the terms, by far more than the overall reduction
approximately one sergeant and 12 officers pressure from not only managing the in police numbers.
per area or OCU and I think my old area is caseloads but also CPS wish lists and family Dedicated roads policing officers make up
now lucky to get one traffic car as and when, expectations and balancing each just four per cent of total force strength with
thinking we would have two traffic cars investigation. a significant number being double-hatted
every shift 24 hours a day. “Non-stops are still the same with no too.”
“We need re-investment for public continuity in assistance at times, and little Find out more and give evidence at
confidence, visibility, enforcing and or no support from senior management; we https://tinyurl.com/yddoa5fw
educating motorists in all areas of traffic feel like the poor relation nowadays.”
law, dealing with collisions from slight to But he enjoys being allowed to get on
fatal. with my job and getting the investigation
“The role of a traffic officer has been completed to a high standard leaving no
watered down over the years and drawn stone unturned to get the answers for
into more crime-orientated duties. What I families of loved ones killed on the road.
“
We need re-investment for public confidence,

visibility, enforcing and educating motorists in all

areas of traffic law, dealing with collisions from

slight to fatal. “

www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2020 15