New-Look Traffic Unit To Turn Up The Heat On Criminal Gangs
Thursday, 22 April, 2010
TRAFFIC police across the West Midlands are undergoing a change of image - and organised criminals won't like it.
Officers who patrol the roads are shifting their tack to increasingly target gangs who use the road network to commit crime.
A restructuring of West Midlands Police has created a new 800-strong Operations department responsible for all operational issues in the force area.
The change means all public order, firearms and event management incidents will come under the control of the department.
But the biggest operational change is the creation of a Force Traffic Unit, which will see traffic officers based at Wednesbury, Aston and Chelmsley Wood.
Officers will provide a 24/7 capability from the three bases alongside two dedicated Proactive Teams at Wednesbury, and one each at Aston and Chelmsley Wood.
The new set up will see traffic police move to a more focussed and intelligence led way of operating.
In addition to the more routine incidents traffic officers are expected to deal with, they will be specifically identifying criminals who use the region's road network to ply their trade.
Organised crime groups will be also be hit by Automatic Number Plate Recognition operations which will be run in conjunction with partner agencies.
The highly trained Proactive Teams working from the three bases will respond to a range of community generated concerns, including the anti-social use of vehicles.
That might mean anything from dealing with issues surrounding off road motorcycles to groups driving dangerously around a neighbourhood.
But people who use their mobile phones at the wheel, cram too many people into their cars or drive without seatbelts will continue to be on the radar.
Community information and intelligence will help to focus activity in areas where Traffic resources can be most effective, impacting on on issues that have a negative impact on communities' quality of life.
Chief Insp Chris Edwards, of the new-look Force Traffic Unit, said: "There has to be a balance between reducing the number of deaths and injuries on the roads and targeting those people who use the road network to carry out serious criminal activity.
"Most people who use a mobile phone do so because they think the risk of getting caught is not great, but the new way we are working dramatically increases that risk."
He added: "People often say 'why don't you go and catch proper criminals' but if you lose a loved one because someone was driving while texting you would think very differently."
The traffic officers will now have round the clock supervision to focus their activity on the delivery of five priorities, which include:
Enhancing public trust, confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads
Reducing road casualties
Denying criminals the use of the roads
Tackling the threat of terrorism
Reducing anti-social use of vehicles
Traffic officers will increasingly be working alongside neighbourhood team officers to represent the force at partnership, community and action group meetings.
Chief Insp Edwards said: "Before the restructure at the start of April, traffic policing strategies varied across the 21 command units of the force, but now we can have a more consistent and uniform approach.
"Now the force's traffic policing strategy will aim to reflect the priorities and concerns of the community in the 10 Local Policing Units."
The change also sees the creation of a dedicated Collision Investigation Unit at Aston, responsible for investigating road deaths and collisions that result in life changing injuries.
The new team has been created to offer a more consistent and effective approach and offer a better quality of service to the victim's family.
Chief Insp Edwards said: "A more focused use of our resources towards particular problems identified by intelligence and the concerns of our communities is designed to bring about an improved service and satisfaction.
"The aim will be to make the roads of the West Midlands far less attractive to criminals whilst also ensuring law abiding drivers can travel safely."
