Hackney residents given speed guns to crack down on reckless driving

Residents of London borough Hackney are signing up to a new scheme allowing them to carry radar speed guns and catch reckless drivers red-handed.

The east London borough is the latest to launch the Community Roadwatch Scheme, run by Transport for London. Those who sign up to the scheme are trained by Police Community Support Officers, who then accompany them at the roadside where they carry speed guns and wear hi-vis jackets.

Those caught breaking the speed limit will be issued with a warning letter from Police, but if they’re caugh repeat offending, could be subject to immediate action. And to ensure impartiality, residents are not allowed to work on the street on which they live.

Steve Burton, TfL’s director of on-street operations, said: “Community Roadwatch is a great example of our local safer transport teams working to improve road safety in local neighbourhoods.”

The TfL scheme started in Bexley and Croydon back in August 2015, and has since been rolled out to 14 other boroughs. Since it started, 4,177 motorists have been caught speeding, and 3,532 have received warning letters. The equipment used is managed by areas’ local safety transport teams, and signed in and out by the PCSOs when needed.

Similar schemes outside of London run in the same way, but with locals having to pay for the equipment themselves. Some villages and groups have claimed to have spent up to £2,000 on radar guns.

Would you be interested in taking part in such a scheme? Do you think you’d get caught out? Let us know at @Liftshare!