Fed backs calls to invest traffic fines income in roads policing

7 July 2023

West Midlands Police Federation has backed calls for speeding fines to be used to boost roads policing across the region.

The proposals come from Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster who has launched a four-week public consultation which branch members are being encouraged to engage with.

Mr Foster said excessive and unlawful speeding was a factor in many traffic collisions.

He now wants to see money collected from fixed penalty notices used to prevent, tackle and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on the roads, promote road harm reduction and cut the number of people killed and seriously injured.

Tim Rogers, secretary of West Midlands Police Federation and national police pursuits and driver training lead, welcomed the proposals.

He said: “The PCC is trying, quite rightly, to get a better deal with £1.6 million generated by fines every year.

“This income needs to be invested back into addressing a situation on our roads which results in the death of more than 1,600 people each year.

“I would like to see a commitment to invest in the training of roads policing officers who are critical in gaining the buy-in from road users and who are best placed to educate, enforce and engage with vulnerable and risk road users.

“The long-term decline in traffic officer numbers and their specialist training is something I would hope to see prioritised with any replacement of the funding lost though various long-term cuts which have had a disproportionate impact on roads policing.

Tim Rogers, secretary of West Midlands Police Federation and national
police pursuits and driver training lead

“The PCC has launched a four-week consultation to gather people’s views and I would encourage our members to take part in this process and have their say.”

Mr Foster said around 16,654 fixed penalty tickets were processed by the West Midlands Police ticketing office every year, generating £1,654,000 in income which is retained by HM Treasury.

But he is now calling for the cash to be fed back into roads policing and supporting local authorities’ road safety activities.

“All money generated through the enforcement of unlawful speeding on West Midlands roads should be spent here,” said Mr Foster.

“This can be used to fund further enforcement and improve safety on the road network for all road users, through interventions such as driver targeted behaviour change programmes, education and infrastructure enhancements, to make use of the road network safe for vulnerable road users, for example, pedestrians and cyclists.

“The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office is continuing to campaign for this money to remain where it is collected, here in the West Midlands.

“This money would then be used to prevent, tackle and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on our roads and to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. It should be ring fenced for use by both West Midlands Police and the seven local authorities, in the delivery of the West Midlands Regional Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030.”

West Midlands Police Federation members are being urged to have their say in the PCC’s four-week public consultation.