PCC funds new Speedwatch van to support crackdown on dangerous driving

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has jointly funded a new community Speedwatch van to help improve safety on the county’s roads.

The van, which will be staffed by neighbourhood police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and volunteers, will be used as a visible reminder for traffic to slow down and use appropriate legal speeds in areas of the Derwent Valley where speeding is an issue.

The vehicle is equipped with a large Speed Indication Device which will display each passing motorist’s current speed as well as built-in ANPR technology to record registration plates, speed and an image of those vehicles travelling above the limit. Where drivers flout limits, checks will be conducted to establish owner details before an appropriate warning letter is sent in the post.

The vehicle has been jointly funded by the PCC and the Derwent Valley Area Action Partnership – a group consisting of residents, police, fire and health representatives, housing organisations, businesses and the voluntary sector who work together to improve opportunities for local people and to promote community resilience and safety.

The Commissioner, who provided a grant worth £2,710 towards the vehicle, praised the huge contribution made by partners in bringing the project to fruition and for their ongoing commitment to supporting neighbourhood policing teams and volunteers to make Durham’s roads safer and to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on the county’s roads.  

In Durham alone, 232 people were killed or seriously injured on our roads during 2023/2024 while on average five people die every day on the roads in the UK with a further 80 seriously injured.

Speeding is one of the ‘Fatal Four’ causes of collisions alongside mobile phones, seat belts and drink/drug driving and the Commissioner has vowed to invest in technology and resources to make drivers think twice about their actions behind the wheel.

The new van is the fourth Community Speedwatch vehicle to be funded under the PCC’s administration. Other vans are in operation in Newton Aycliffe, Barnard Castle and Stanhope.

Joy Allen said: “Every life lost and every injury suffered is a tragedy. A tragedy that most likely could have been avoided.

“This project is an example of the fantastic partnership work in action across the county to make our roads safer and to prevent needless, avoidable deaths and serious injuries and I am hugely grateful for Area Action Partnership’s ongoing support.  

“Speeding not only claims lives and causes serious injury it erodes community life and stops people feeling safe and enjoying where they live. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to make a difference.

“Durham is fortunate to have a whole army of Community Speedwatch volunteers who diligently monitor our roads to dissuade drivers from breaking the law and reminding them of their responsibilities behind the wheel. I have no doubt their activities have helped save lives.

“I am delighted to fund the new van which will be deployed across the Derwent Valley. The vehicle will enhance the existing work of Community Speedwatch volunteers in the town, enabling them to cover more ground and retrieve more accurate data. While they are already doing a sterling job, we would always appeal for more volunteers to join their efforts and ensure this new resource is used for maximum impact.”

Former firefighter Tom Drummond, who is a passionate and dedicated road safety campaigner in the Consett area and earned a Commissioner’s Commendation Award in 2023 for more than a decade of service, previously carried Speedwatch equipment in his own vehicle to enable monitoring activities to be carried out across a wider area.

He is credited with helping Consett Neighbourhood Policing Team frequently deliver the highest number of Community Speedwatch deployments of any area across the force.

Latest data shows Consett deployed Speedwatch equipment on 307 occasions between January and October 2024 – almost three times more than the next most active area – with much of the activity undertaken by Mr Drummond, highlighting the need for a dedicated vehicle.

Consett PCSO Ian McKenna said: “The Community Speedwatch vehicle will be a significant asset to the Neighbourhood Policing Team, predominantly to be utilised in the Derwent Valley which covers areas throughout Consett and Stanley such as Leadgate, Blackhill, Shotley Bridge, Medomsley, Hamsterley Mill, Dipton and Burnopfield.

“Whilst neighbourhood officers will use the vehicle to carry out Speedwatch activity, over time we hope to attract more volunteers from the local community who are passionate about tackling speeding. With appropriate vetting clearance and completion of a basic driving assessment, these volunteers will be able to attend the station and take the vehicle out into areas where speeding has been raised/identified and conduct their own Speedwatch activity. We hope to reach a point whereby the community take “ownership” of the vehicle.”

Data from the Speedwatch activity will be analysed to determine whether locations require additional enforcement action by traffic officers, making it an important asset for the community.

A spokesperson for Derwent Valley Partnership said: “The Derwent Valley Partnership were delighted to contribute funding towards the purchase of a new Community Speedwatch vehicle in response to the concerns of residents relating to speeding in Consett and surrounding villages. We look forward to seeing the impact that this fantastic resource will have in our area and strongly encourage local residents to put themselves forward as Community Speedwatch volunteers to help us improve road safety.”

Road safety has remained a top priority for the Commissioner since she was first elected in 2021, and she continues to invest in extra enforcement and new technology and resources to improve safety for all road users.

Nationally, the PCC lobbies for tougher sentencing guidelines and new laws to protect the public and hold offenders accountable for their actions.

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