Speed cameras to get extra monitoring in Cornwall

The pole holding a speed camera appeared to have been chopped down

Areas where speed traps have been vandalised in recent weeks will be monitored more closely by police.

Three poles holding cameras were cut down in average speed zones between Truro and Falmouth, and near Helston, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Replacements, which will cost between £6,000 and £10,000 each, will be made more difficult to destroy.

Adrian Leisk, head of road safety for the force, said: "This clandestine approach is really unhealthy."

'Not some cash cow'

One of the poles, in Trewennack, detects about 20 speeding offences per month.

Mr Leisk told BBC Radio Cornwall the income from the schemes "just about" covers the £10,000 annual cost of maintaining the equipment.

"They are not some cash cow. The people who have done this have made that community less safe, and I'm really struggling to see what their issue is."

Replacing a camera pole will cost between £6,000 and £10,000

The force said it intended to replace all three poles within weeks and would trawl CCTV to find those responsible.

It added that it would put extra security in place to monitor the new cameras.

• Listen: Commissioner is undeterred in her mission for road safety

• Listen: Residents react to their damaged speed camera

Mr Leisk added: "We will expend every energy in making sure that we can identify these individuals and bring them to justice."