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Originally Posted by andyl
The public/media's obsession with the siting of speed cameras is an excellent example of why this proposal is indeed a non-starter.
(PS. If you don't speed why would speed cameras be an issue (beyond, perhaps, civil liberties concerns). The argument always thrown up is that cameras are not about safety but revenue. OK, stop speeding and cut off the revenue stream.)
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A gatso camera costs between £20,000 and £40,000 to install.
A PC starts on about £20,000 once training has been completed.
Which would be more effective at tackling total crime?
A £40,000 speed camera or 2 police constables?
The main objection people have with speeding being classed as a crime is that there is no victim.
If someone does 80 down the motorway, who's the victim?
Sure, you're going to say "but if they crash into someone because they can't stop in time then there's a victim" but speed didn't cause it, dangerous driving, by being too close for instance, caused the accident and no speed camera will ever catch someone driving dangerously under the speed limit.
A policeman in a patrol car however can.
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Originally Posted by Graham
Err, so what you're saying, then, is that this elected official *won't* be able to change Police policy if the Police don't want it to change...???
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I assumed you knew what the PA's powers were rather than just blindly commenting on something you're not well informed of, but for any others who don't know what PA's actually do:
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Humberside Police Authority
Roles and Responsibilities
The Police Authority's key statutory duty is to secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for the area of Humberside. To achieve this, it:-
monitors the performance of Humberside Police
approves the budget each year
determines local objectives and priorities
publishes a local Policing Plan every year
publishes an Annual Report every year assessing how well the Policing Plan was put into practice
consults the people in the Humberside Police Authority area about how they are policed
keeps itself informed about the way in which the Chief Constable deals with complaints from the public against the police officers
deals with complaints against the Chief Constable and his Assistant Chief Constables
deals with various appeals from traffic wardens, support staff and police officers.
arranges for volunteers from the community to monitor the welfare of people kept in police stations ( through the Custody Visiting Scheme)
appoints the Chief Constable and Chief Officers of Humberside Police
secures Best Value in the way services are provided having regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness and quality.
The Chief Constable
The Chief Constable of Humberside Police is accountable to the Police Authority for the performance of the force, although the force itself is under his direction and control. He has 'operational independence', which means neither the Home Secretary nor the Police Authority can instruct him as to how he should carry out policing duties.
He must, however, 'have regard to' the Police Authority's local Policing Plan and carry out other duties required by legislation and/or the Home Secretary.
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