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Met Police begins driver get-together
Page 16
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By Roanna Avisort MOST HGV drivers don't want to see the police in a lorry park it usually means enforcement, and a possible delay to their journeys.
But last week, CM joined the Metropolitan Police's Commercial Vehicle Education Unit at Clacket Lane Services on the M25 as it launched a series of informal meetings with drivers, which it is calling Stammtisch. Based on a model used by the German police, Stammtisch roughly translates as "regular get-together".
The education unit is funded by Transport for London (TfL) and aims to improve communication between drivers and the police. thereby reducing the number of those caught out by the myriad of rules and regulations that affect the road haulage industry.
When we meet up with the police on a bright Wednesday morning, they're still considering how they will set out their stall in future. They have leaflets in English explaining Stammtisch, which they hand out around the park, but next time they hope to have the leaflets available in other languages to cater for foreign drivers.
Similarly, this time around, they only have tea or coffee on offer from the back of their van, but hope to have some tables and chairs set up so drivers can take some time out while they chat to the officers. is a change in direction for the Met, which has previously focused on enforcement: "We feel that we'll get a better response from drivers by using educational techniques rather than beating them over the head with a big stick."
The officers we meet are Sgt John Garvey, PC Conor McCarrick, PC Kevin McGlinchey and PC David Storrar.
Garvey says the education unit He adds that giving drivers a stern talking-to rather than a ticket can help change behaviour. But the aim of Stammtisch is not to tell drivers they are doing things wrong. Instead, it is to answer their questions and help them stay on the right side of the law. -They don't have to give us their names, unless they want to," Garvey says.
"We're happy to sit down and have a chat with drivers. If we don't know the answer to their questions, we'll find out for them."
Since this is the first outing for the Stammtisch idea, Garvey and his team are spending a majority of their time spreading the word, but they are still taking note of drivers' concerns.
While some drivers we talk to aren't convinced Stammtisch will work due to ingrained suspicion of the police and their motives, others seem a little more optimistic.
Philip Dalton, who drives for DHL, says: "It's a brilliant idea. Owner-drivers may struggle to keep on top of the information."
Chris Aldred, from Les Knight Transport, spends time telling the police about his issues with a lack of parking spaces for LGVs and the cost of those that are available. He tells CM that having police on hand is a positive step, and he plans to spread the word.
Education might be the aim of the initiative, but it also allows more traditional techniques to be employed, should the need arise.
For example, police are on hand to catch up with an offender who reversed into another truck then tried to drive off after the incident in the truck park.
An accident that might normally take several hours for the police to respond to is resolved in a matter of minutes.
• Stammtisch will run on the first Wednesday of every month at Clacket Lane and Thurrock Services on the M25, and Heston Services on the M4.