HC Deb 13 January 2003 vol 397 cc454-5W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers have been attached to Sussex traffic police in each of the last 10 years; [89349]

(2) what (a) number and (b) percentage of Sussex Police are engaged in speed management. [89351]

Mr. Denham

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has provided the following information.

Sussex Police (Traffic Officers)
Year (as at 31 March) Number of Traffic Officers1 Percentage of force strength2
1997–98 206 6.9
1998–99 197 6.9
1999–2000 191 6.8
2000–01 190 6.6
2001–02 174 6.0
1 Police officers who are predominately employed on motor cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. Not including officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties.
2 Traffic officers as a percentage of force strength.

The basis on which HMIC classify Police Service staff changed in the year 1999–2000, so the figures for 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. Some officers counted as deployed to traffic duties in earlier years may, from 1999–2000 onward, have been recorded as deployed to duties relating to traffic wardens.

Deployment of officers to traffic and speed management duties are matters for the Chief Constable. I understand from the Chief Constable that about 142 constables are currently deployed on traffic duties.

I am told by the Chief Constable that speed management is designed to influence driver behaviour and is directed to those instances where there can be a link between collisions and speed. Speed enforcement tactics are targeted where there is likely to be the greatest chance of casualty reduction. I understand that all Sussex traffic officers can be directed to speed management activities and are trained for it. However, I am told that the equivalent of four full-time officers are regularly directed to this activity.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile camera speed checks have been carried out by Sussex traffic police in the last year. [89352]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

I understand from the Chief Constable of Sussex that over the last year members of the Sussex Police Safety Camera Team have undertaken 262 mobile speed camera checks in which speeding offences were detected. This figure does not take account of other checks where there was no such detection.