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Police Chief Says Drivers Should Be Punished For Going 1mph Over Speed Limit

Police Chief Says Drivers Should Be Punished For Going 1mph Over Speed Limit

Police Chief Anthony Bangham says that officers need to stop being 'apologetic' when pulling speeding motorists over

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison

We've become so used to the buffer added to speed limits by most UK police forces that going one mile per hour over really doesn't feel like committing much of a crime. However, according to Police Chief Anthony Bangham, it most certainly is, and he's very keen to have the current system tightened right up.

The senior police official said that drivers should be punished even for going 1mph over the speed limit and that the 'soft' treatment of speeders needs to come to an end in order to make Britain's roads safer for everyone.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham.
PA

Current practice means that motorists in a 30mph zone can get away with driving at 35mph, or 68mph in a 60mph zone.

Chief Con Bangham, the National Police Chiefs' lead on road policy, said traffic officers should stop being 'apologetic' for handing out speeding tickets and that motorists who get caught need to 'stop whingeing' about it.

Speaking at the Police Federation Roads Policing Conference yesterday, West Mercia's Chief Con Bangham told delegates: "Let's change the message. I do not want the public to be surprised, I want them to be embarrassed when they get caught.

"They need to understand the law is set at the limit for a reason. If booked at 35 or 34 or 33 [in a 30mph zone] that cannot be unfair because they are breaking the law."

PA

He added that speed awareness courses had become the 'expected norm' and that in their place, drivers should be slapped with more points and heavier fines.

"Let's change the message - we are proud to be law enforcers," he said. "I do not want the public to be surprised, I want them to be embarrassed when they get caught... They need to understand the law is set at the limit for a reason. They should not come whinging to us about getting caught.

"If booked at 35 or 34 or 33 [in a 30mph zone] that cannot be unfair because they are breaking the law."

However, critics Chief Con Bangham's vision have argued that it will make 'criminals out of good drivers' and that rather than making roads safer it could have the opposite effect, as people will be glued to their speedometers rather than focussing on what's going on around them.

Tory MP Sir Greg Knight warned against a zero-tolerance approach.

"The police rely in many cases to solve crimes on the good will of the public," he said. "I can think of nothing more likely to destroy that good will than an overly aggressive policy towards motorists.

"It will make criminals of motorists who are basically good drivers trying to obey the speed limit, while keeping an eye on the road."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Cars