Community and police work together to target speeding in Derbyshire

The scheme enables trained volunteers to reduce the problem of speeding on their local roads, by conducting speed checks.

Details of vehicles witnessed breaching the speed limit are then forwarded to the Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST). The team then issue the registered owner of the vehicle a letter that sets out details of the check and reminds them of the dangers of speeding. 

If the same vehicle is seen speeding again, within a year, then a stronger worded letter is sent and if a third occasion is witnessed, the owners receive a personal visit from our Roads Policing Unit.

7,303 letters have been sent out between 1 May 2021 and 31 May 2022, 191 of these were second letters and 21 owners received personal visits.

Darren Roberts, Crest Section Manager, explained: “Speed limits make an important contribution to the safety of our roads. Driving a vehicle above the limit is a serious offence as it significantly increases the risk of a collision and causing serious injury or death to you or another road user.

“Whilst a large part of our work in CREST is enforcement, the Community Speed Watch Scheme is a collaboration between the communities of Derbyshire and the police and is a valuable way to educate drivers in Derbyshire of the dangers of driving at excess speed and persuading drivers and riders to stick to the speed limits.

“We are really grateful to the nearly 700 fully trained volunteers, across 91 schemes in Derbyshire, for the time and effort they put into keeping their communities safe. A notable indication of the success of the scheme is that very few owners require a visit from an officer.”

If you are interested in forming a scheme in your area, then make contact with your local Safer Neighbourhood team by using the following contact methods:

• Facebook – send us a private message to our Facebook page
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact
• Website – We have several crime reporting tools on our website or use our online contact form
• Phone – call us on 101