POLICE AT RISK
Page 24
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In a recent Sound Off Richard Bretton, the Casualty Reduction Officer of Bedfordshire Police, highlighted the dangers of using the motorway hard shoulder (CM 17-23 June).
The dangers involved in using the motorway hard shoulder have been well publicised in recent years, particularly following a number of fatal accidents. The safety message contained within the article is clear and unambiguous: motorway hard shoulders are dangerous places and should be treated with the utmost caution.
But just across the border in Cambridgeshire, this message appears to have been lost on Richard Bratton's colleagues.
On the recently completed stretch of motorway on the Al between Peterborough and Alconbury, Cambridgeshire police are regularly using the hard shoulder to set up video camera surveillance of traffic, presumably for speeding offences. This practice is occurring despite the presence of dedicated police parking areas which have beer provided at regular intervals alongthe motorway.
The routine use of the hard shoulder for video surveillance by Cambridgeshire police is highly dangerous for both the vehicles using the road and for the police officers concerned.
This practice should cease immediately and, to that effect, I am passing a copy of this letter to the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire police.
D Marshall, Peterborough.