It's all about money and not safety, says council

Extracted from a report by The Daily Mail on 16th December 2003

North Somerset Council is threatening to pull out of the Safety Camera Partnership unless it stops trying to trap motorists rather than improve safety. The council believes the cash for cameras scheme may collapse if it withdraws its co-operation.

Conservative council leader Mike Roe said "We have created a Frankenstein's monster. The Partnership has taken on a life of its own and is no longer accountable to anyone. The cameras are simply an income generator for the Partnership and a tax generator for the Treasury. We feel they are fuelling the bureaucracy of more cameras and more people. It is a massive job creation scheme."

In June a mobile speed camera van run by the Avon Somerset and Gloucestershire Partnership was photographed illegally parked on a double yellow line, half in a cycle lane and half on the pavement. The Assistant Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police attacked the "appalling and hypocrytical" methods.

There are 43 speed camera Partnerships covering virtually all of the UK.

Do speed cameras near you meet the government's guidelines? Find out what these guidelines are.