It’s reported here that Maldon Council will be taking on the role of the police by catching speeding motorists. It’s slightly different though from community speedwatch, which is already operated by numerous councils and groups around the country. These ‘community protection officers’ will enable the police to issue fines and points.
It makes us wonder if it’s just another ‘swings and roundabouts’ exercise, where the police are utilising the council to carry out some of their work as they don’t have the budget for officers to do this, but where will the council get the budget for these protection officers in the first place? Will it actually save any more in the long term though?