Lancashire Police want residents to help target danger drivers

Trained volunteers would monitor the speed of traffic using approved detection devices

A child giving a speeding motorist a roadside telling off can prove a better deterrent than a fine, Lancashire's police commissioner has said.

Police are working to reintroduce a community speed-watch scheme that will see local residents monitoring speeding on their own roads.

The measures involve using trained volunteers to monitor the speed of traffic using approved equipment.

Each area will have three separate sets of activity under the scheme.

Lancashire police and crime commissioner Andrew Snowden discussed the scheme at the police and crime panel for Lancashire on Monday in Blackburn Town Hall.

He told councillors: "Neighbourhood policing teams are having much more of an opportunity to do much more with the community speed watch, which is where the targeting of enforcement in 20mph zones is coming from residents, particularly with schools.

"We often find that a nine-year-old child giving you a telling off at the side of the road about why you were putting their life in danger is actually far more impactful than a 70 quid fine.

"And on the other side of it with the new dedicated roads policing unit is greater actual enforcement 24/7."

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Lancashire Police first introduced the measures in 2011, but a panel on Tuesday heard that the force "was trying to get it up and running again" following a break during Covid.

If it goes ahead, trained volunteers would monitor the speed of traffic on their roads using approved detection devices.

Drivers exceeding the speed limit are then sent a letter explaining the potential risks of their dangerous behaviour and then police action is taken against repeat offenders.

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