· Police fears over speed camera backlash

Rank-and-file police have launched an attack on speed cameras, saying they are "destroying" the relationship between officers and law abiding citizens in middle England.
The Police Federation, which represents 136,000 officers, said it believed some roadside cameras were being used simply to raise money for force coffers.
Officers are bearing the brunt of a public backlash against cameras and are regularly called money grabbers by motorists and the public, it said.
Federation chairman Jan Berry said: "That happens every day. I'm not on operational duty but even if I'm out socially these types of comments come in my direction.
Middle England pay their fines
"There is a general perception that it is a money-making exercise. I believe some cameras are there as a revenue generator. I think police get the blame for that.
"I think it has been quite destructive - middle England will continue to pay their fines but others don't. There are concerns that large numbers of unpaid speeding tickets are being written off without any follow up. I think speed cameras have totally changed a part of the relationship between the police and the public."
She said the problem was the "sheer number" of cameras - the Government says there are around 4,500.
Cameras 'have no power of discretion'
The Federation supports the use of cameras at accident blackspots but wants an audit of those in place to establish whether they are needed.
She said cameras did not have the power of discretion which a police traffic officer could offer. She said: "Cameras are being used in the place of police officers but there needs to be a balance."
The Federation also argues that in many cases an officer giving a talk to a motorist about the dangers of traveling at speed would have more of an effect than them receiving a penalty notice in the post.
It also says cameras fail to deter drink drivers and that the number of accidents where drink was a factor has for the first time reached 20,000. Cameras also cannot detect underage or uninsured drivers, those not wearing seatbelts or without a license or in possession of drugs or guns.
Home Office figures show that the number of speeding fines increased from 1.1 million in 2001 to 1.5m in 2002.
The increasing number of speed cameras has coincided with a fall in the numbers of traffic officers.

Daily Mail
14th May 2004