Fall in motoring offences could be due to fewer officers

ROADS policing cutbacks mean ‘minor’ traffic offences such as careless driving cannot be effectively detected, MPs have warned.

A report by parliament’s Transport Select Committee suggested that a fall in recorded motoring offences may be due to the reduced number of traffic officers rather than improved standards of driving.

Between 2005 and 2014, the number of specialist roads policing officers in England and Wales fell by 40% from 7,104 to 4,356, while the total number of motoring offences fell by 35% from 4.3 million in 2004 to 1.5 million.

However, the number of offences resulting in death, which are always recorded, has stayed the same.

“This is significant as this suggests that the reduction in overall offences that are recorded does not represent a reduction in offences actually being committed,” said the report.

“There is a growing concern that the lack of specialist dedicated road traffic officers means that ‘minor’ offences such as careless driving cannot be effectively detected and enforcement action taken.”

Labour MP Louise Ellman, who chairs the committee, stated that the fall in overall road offences “does not reflect an improvement in driving”.

The committee urged the government to ensure detection rates for the most dangerous offences – such as drink-driving, speeding, using a mobile phone while driving and failing to wear a seatbelt – were high.

Pete Williams, a spokesman for the RAC, said: “The sharp decline in roads policing officers appears to be having the very unwelcome effect of leading to fewer people being caught for illegal activity.”

However, the Home Office insists that the police service has the resources it needs, and that enforcement of traffic offences is an operational matter for the police.

“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has been clear that there is no link between police resources and crime levels and effective roads policing is dependent on a range of factors, from better driver awareness to increased use of fixed penalty notices,” said the department.