HC Deb 18 July 1979 vol 970 cc703-4W
Mr. Snape

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state, with regard to those pieces of speed detection equipment used by police authorities which are not supplied and maintained by his Department, what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that such devices are accurate in operational use;

(2) if he will state, with regard to those pieces of speed detection equipment which are not supplied and maintained by his Department, to what extent police authorities are responsible for ensuring that in operational use such devices are accurate;

(3) whether he will take steps to ensure that all speed detection devices currently in operational use or to be brought into use by police authorities are evaluated and authorised by his Department; and, if he will give his reasons for his decision;

(4) if he will list in the Official Report the types of equipment, currently available, designed to detect the speed of motor vehicles which are approved by his Department for use by police authorities;

(5) if he will list in the Official Report the types of equipment designed to detect the speed of motor vehicles which are supplied to police authorities and maintained by his Department.

Mr Whitelaw

It is for each chief officer of police to decide which devices should be used by his force and to satisfy himself about their accuracy and the circumstances in which they should be deployed. I have no plans to seek to change that situation. To police forces who wish to use it, the Home Office supplies, on rental terms, and maintains, a device called the portable electronic traffic analyser.