Praise as speed watch scheme hits anniversary

The presence of speed watch volunteers have improved the behaviour of drivers, police claimed

People worried about drivers going too fast in their area have been asked to consider volunteering for speed watch schemes.

West Mercia Police made the appeal as its first community speed watch scheme in Crowle, Worcestershire, reached its 10th anniversary.

The force said there were now 75 local groups across its patch including in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire.

The scheme involves training volunteers to check on vehicles' speeds using approved, handheld devices.

Where speeds are "found to be inappropriate" police officers send a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle to encourage them to reduce their speed, the force said.

'Positive change'

The schemes were introduced to address community concerns in areas which did not meet speed or crash criteria for police-led enforcement, it added.

There were about 45 active sites in action across the force area.

The schemes can be introduced if certain criteria were already in place, including that the area had a 30mph or 40mph speed restriction, police said.

Deputy Chief Constable Richard Cooper said they were "very proud" of the initiative and he thanked everyone involved, particularly the volunteers who ran the schemes.

"They give up their time to monitor speeds to try and make their community a safer place and their contribution is immeasurable," he said.

"In many areas where [community speed watch] is already in place, local residents have seen a positive change in driver behaviour and compliance with the speed limit and we look forward to replicating those results across more areas in the future.”