Cuts to road policing 'are risky'

Date: 30/1/2012

Road policing cuts will result in more drivers attempting to get away with illegal and dangerous activity such as drink driving and using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

This is according to road safety charity Brake, which has published new research showing an 11.6 per cent fall in the number of traffic police catching dangerous and drunk drivers in five years.

It noted that in 1999 7,525 traffic police were in operation across England and Wales, a figure that had fallen to 6,511 by 2005 and has continued to decline.

Brake has urged the government to take action to reverse the trend and Deputy Chief Executive Julie Townsend said it needs to be made a "national policing priority."

"This is crucial in safeguarding the public and preventing needless casualties that lead to terrible suffering and it also makes economic sense," she observed.

Data released by the Association of Chief Police Officers showed 7,124 drivers were arrested for being drunk behind the wheel between December 1st 2011 and January 1st 2012 and the body said more needs to be done to make it easier for officers to detect motorists who are over the limit.

Posted by Mary Treen