Community Speedwatch enables communities to tackle anti-social driving in their local environment in partnership with Surrey Police.
Community Speedwatch has been operating in Surrey for several years. It has yielded very positive results in improving motorists behaviour. This has reduced the threat to life, reduced the impact of anti-social driving and improved the quality of life of those affected.
The initiative aims to:
- Educate motorists on safe road use
- Raise awareness on the impact and consequences of anti-social driving
- Change driver behaviour through active engagement
- Improve road safety locally
Community Speedwatch works in partnership with Surrey Police and local councils.
How it works
- A meeting to discuss anti-social driving is scheduled between Surrey Police and local residents.
- A Surrey Police Casualty Reduction Officer (CRO) is deployed to monitor traffic in the areas raised as a concern.
- CRO reports back to the community about the seriousness of the issue. Collection of evidence is key to setting up a scheme.
- If evidence indicates a significant problem, police will target the area, subject to resource availability. Communities may opt to form a Community Speedwatch Scheme. This provides further support to monitor the situation. CSW offers local residents the opportunity to target vehicles themselves.
- A scheme requires a minimum of six volunteers. Full training is provided by Surrey Police, this includes, correct use of speed monitoring equipment, health & safety training and how to effectively engage with motorists and/or members of the public.
- Volunteers arrange suitable times to target anti-social driving. Generally, this involves monitoring vehicles for up to an hour during peak traffic periods.
- Vehicles identified as speeding are logged by the volunteers. This information is forwarded to an administrator. Advisory letters are sent to the registered keepers of recorded vehicles.
- If a problem persists with any particular motorists the police will target the drivers and, if appropriate, take further action against them.