In Theory, Driving to Improve
August 17th, 2007
Road safety claim for extra multi-choice questions for learner drivers...
Eviction Notice for Centre Lane Squatters
August 10th, 2007
Will new Highways Agency DVD really stop bad motorway driving?
Less Traffic Cops Equals More Car Cloning
June 22nd, 2007
New figures show a 25% increase in Car Cloning Crime over the last year.
Minister admits not enough Traffic Cops
June 15th, 2007
Britain’s Transport Minister has conceded that there are not enough Police on the roads...
June 22nd, 2007
Adrian Butterworth
New figures show a 25% increase in Car Cloning Crime over the last year. Yet last week the Transport Minister exclusively told us, that he thinks there are not enough Police Traffic Officers on the road.
To catch the fraudsters the government have given the DVLA new enforcement powers. Yet they can only attempt to prevent the crime by going after producers of fake plates. Only policemen on the roads can discover the users of the counterfeits and prevent our highways from being used by criminals.
Speed cameras and data systems such as the DVLA’s are no replacement for real policemen. It seems that Dr Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister agrees. In his letter to all Chief Police Officers he pointed out that:
“Whilst technology has enhanced capacity for the police to perform their role more efficiently and effectively, it cannot enforce all offences and cannot replace direct intervention by the police. There is a need for an active police presence on the roads.”
As the number of Police Traffic Officers has declined so crimes related to vehicle identity have gone up. If criminals steal your cars license details you could mistakenly be prosecuted for their crimes.
Dave Warren, DVLA Vehicle Crime Manager
'...the officers have been in place but without the prosecution powers since the Road Safety Act of 2006...'