Community and cops to team up against speedy drivers in Kingswinford (From Stourbridge News)
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Community and cops to team up against speedy drivers in Kingswinford
4:32pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in Local
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l-r PCSO John Link, PCSO Stacey Staple, PCSO Richard Lockley, Sgt Chris Collins, Cllr Peter Miller, Cllr David Blood and Cllr Cheryl Billingham
KINGSWINFORD police are partnering up with the public for a new drive to keep an eye on speedy motorists.
A Community Speedwatch scheme is being set up in the region to find out the facts on drivers who break the law.
The initiative is being pioneered by Sgt Chris Collins, from Kingswinford police station, to give residents a chance to use hi-tech laser equipment to survey suspect stretches of road.
Sgt Collins said: "It is to separate facts from perceptions, one of the big complaints is speeding vehicles. We want to go into areas where we get complaints and involve members of the community trained to use the speed devices to see if there is a problem.
"The public will not be issuing tickets, if there is a speeding issue then we can deal with it."
He added members of the public carrying out the surveys, which will collect data on speeding vehicle numbers, will be accompanied by CPSOs.
He also rejected the suggestion the scheme was designed to get members of the public to do cops' jobs for them.
Sgt Collins said: "It is a targeted response, there are members of the community who want to pro-activlety help."
The Community Speedwatch scheme, which has the backing of Kingswinford councillors, will be officially launched in the coming weeks.
Anyone who would like more information should call Sgt Collins at Kingswinford police station by dialling 101.
