New devices help to tackle speeding in villages

Published: 26 March 2022

On Thursday 24 March, Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer joined Officers, PCSOs and speedwatch volunteers for their first session using new state of the art speed recording devices. The new devices for Northwich Local Policing Unit (LPU) were funded by the Commissioner’s Police Innovation Fund.

The Police Innovation Fund enables officers, staff and volunteers from Cheshire Constabulary to apply for funding from the Commissioner to develop and launch new projects which will have a positive impact on policing.

Weaver and Cuddington PCSO Michelle Gillett applied to the Police Innovation Fund and was awarded just over £1,200 towards the speeding device project by the Commissioner. Local Parish Councils have agreed to contribute to the yearly maintenance of the devices.

John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said:

“I was delighted that PCSO Gillett applied to the Fund after noticing increased concerns around speeding in the communities she serves.

“The Police Innovation Fund is there to enable officers, staff and volunteers to realise the solutions they have to the issues they see on the ground, and to make Cheshire a safer place to live, work and visit for everyone.”

The devices will be used by local PCSOs, Officers and community speedwatch volunteers in the villages surrounding Northwich. Volunteers will be fully trained in how to use the devices and the information they feedback will be used to issue fines where appropriate. It will also enable the police to build a bigger picture of speeding issues in particular areas.

PCSO Michelle Gillett said:

“One of the main Residents Voice survey concerns raised within Weaver and Cuddington ward has been Speeding. 

“These devices funded by the Commissioner will allow the trained speedwatch volunteers to help the police in monitoring our roads, whilst also allowing instant access to the devices to maintain safer roads.”

John Dwyer added:

“Making Cheshire’s roads safer is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan. Working with local communities is critical to that aim and I am grateful to all of our speedwatch volunteers who give up their time to make their area safer.

“I’m also working with Parish Councils across the county on an average speed camera pilot scheme. I want us to learn from this and roll out what works across the county.”

Find out more about the Commissioner’s Police Innovation Fund here: www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-i-do/making-cheshire-safer/police-innovation-fund/