Community Speed Watch guidance and registration
How do I become a volunteer?
To find out more about becoming a Community Speedwatch volunteer contact: [email protected].
How much time will I need to give up?
There is no minimum time set but an expectation that sufficient hours are given to make the scheme viable.
Do you get training?
Yes, full training is given to volunteers. This training will be provided by the force’s Watch Coordination Officer and Police Service Volunteer (PSV) Area Coordinators and will depend on the needs of the group assembled.
We hold regular training sessions or, where a village has more than seven volunteers for training, we will try to attend your village to conduct the training. Some of the training is delivered by PSVs, who may also have full-time jobs, so it is not always possible to train in individual villages.
Is it safe for volunteers?
Yes, volunteers are given full training and safety equipment to ensure they are clearly visible to road users.
Will officers still carry out speed checks?
Areas where speeding is identified as an issue will be considered for enforcement work by police officers.
What equipment is used?
Volunteers are provided with high visibility jackets and conduct speed checks using supplied speed indicator devices. The vehicles speed is then displayed on the monitor. Some parishes purchase their own speed indicator devices for their sole use.
Some devices are shared amongst a number of parishes.
Will records of the offending vehicles be kept?
Information gathered during the checks will be used to target enforcement and education measures. Persistent offenders will receive a visit from officers.
Can motorists be prosecuted?
No, these checks are about educating motorists and not prosecution.
Where are the Speedwatch schemes currently operating?
The scheme has been rolled out to all areas in the force and will depend on volunteers making themselves available. To find out whether Community Speedwatch operates in your town or village or you want to set up a new group, fill out our online form or contact [email protected]
How will it stop people from speeding?
Speedwatch is not an enforcement tool but about educating motorists and raising awareness of the dangers of speeding. The scheme is just one part of the ongoing work being carried out by the force to target speeding.
How do I start Speedwatch in my village?
A minimum of three volunteers are required to operate Speedwatch and we suggest that these are drawn from a team of more than nine as this way the same three people are not always conducting checks. Further help and guidance can be obtained by contacting [email protected]
How does my village get a Speedwatch kit?
Where possible we will loan a village a Speedwatch kit or group a village with other local villages who have access to a kit. Many villages decide to buy their own kit (so as to be independent). Please contact the force-wide Watch Coordination Officer for advice on kit purchase.
Do volunteers have access to drivers’ personal details?
No, Speedwatch volunteers record details of speeding vehicles and pass these to the police. The volunteers are never made aware of driver’s personal details and don’t have access to force systems.