Community Speed Watch Groups Could be Set Up in Bridlington

Sunday, 5 March 2023 07:00

By Matthew Pells

Bridlington Town Council is looking at how it might be able to help establish community speed watch groups in the town.

Community Speed Watch allows residents, particularly those in rural communities, to become police-trained volunteers monitoring vehicle speeds in their communities, with the aim of changing the behaviour of some road users who drive above the speed limit through small towns and villages.

The scheme was launched in 2019 and is available for Town and Parish Councils throughout the Humberside Police force area to join, subject to certain criteria.

Coordinator - Wayne Goodwin - says the introduction of a community speed watch group in one east riding village made a big difference.

The town council is exploring what it can do to support the voluntary groups which are coordinated by Humberside Police.

Volunteers are provided with training and radar equipment to record vehicle speeds.

Speed watch Coordinator - Wayne Goodwin - says the idea is to slow down motorists in built up areas.

There are now over 600 trained volunteers in the Humberside Police area. The Community Speed Watch groups are run entirely by volunteers, the scheme is supported by Humberside Police but they will not normally be present when the groups conduct their monitoring sessions.

Whilst monitoring vehicles at the roadside, the team record the details of speeding vehicles on a spreadsheet. This information is then entered into a computer system and emailed to the scheme coordinator. The information is checked against the Police National Computer (PNC) for the keepers details, from which warning letters are then sent. The information is retained for a 12 month rolling period by the police.

In order for local groups to be set up they need to be supported by the local town or parish council with the council needing to provide insurance for the group.

Community Speed Watch is only conducted on single carriageways in 30 mph and 40 mph areas.

More information is available at https://www.humberside-pcc.gov.uk/Community/Community-Speed-Watch.aspx