Road safety 

Community SpeedWatch

Speeding is one of the factors that most affects the quality of life in communities.

It contributes to the severity of road traffic collisions and increases the impact on the lives of people in the community.

Community SpeedWatch is a traffic monitoring scheme coordinated by Thames Valley Police in partnership with local councils and other stakeholders, but managed and run by neighbourhood policing teams and community volunteers.

How it works

• SpeedWatch can only operate in areas up to a 40 miles per hour speed limit. Community volunteers work alongside Thames Valley Police officers to identify vehicles which break the speed limit.
• Registration numbers are entered onto a database which produces a letter informing the registered owner that their vehicle has been noted to have exceeded the speed limit and asking them not to do so in the future.
• If the same registration number is logged in another SpeedWatch anywhere within Thames Valley, the owner will receive another letter advising them that if they are caught a third time, the information will be passed onto Roads Policing, who may take further action.

Speed detection operations

Locations are suggested by the community. A neighbourhood police officer or police community support officer (PCSO) will risk assess the location.

Volunteers must be over 18 years old, and there should be a minimum of six people per scheme. Depending on the type of role they wish to undertake, they may need to go through a vetting process which can take about three months, plus specialist training.

Roadside volunteers are issued high-visibility jackets, roadside signs and are trained to use the equipment and record the information. Confirmation of £5million public liability insurance for roadside working must be included on the Parish Council’s insurance cover.

• For more information about starting a scheme, equipment, or becoming a volunteer, contact your local neighbourhood police officer via 101, the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number.

Will drivers be prosecuted?

Thames Valley Police is committed to driver education first as a powerful and positive way forward to reducing incidents of bad driving and fatalities on the roads.

The devices used are subject to strict protocols which restrict them to those types that are not Home Office Type Approved, display speeds or photograph vehicles.

Should enforcement become necessary, this duty would be undertaken by the Thames Valley Police Roads Policing department as normal.

How do I become a volunteer?

Community volunteer
Volunteers from the community (a minimum of six per scheme) who wish to participate in roadside support with officers need to be 18 years of age or over. They will need to approach either their Parish Neighbourhood Action Group, contact their local council Road Safety Team or speak to their Neighbourhood Road Safety Officer.

Thames Valley Police volunteer
Volunteers who wish to undertake duties within Thames Valley Police (TVP) to act as data administrators need to undertake the appropriate vetting for police clearance – a process which may take two to three months and specialist training. To find out more about becoming a TVP volunteer, after discussions with the Neighbourhood Policing team, contact Erin Houston, volunteer support team on 01865 846250.

Public Liability insurance?

Parish Councils will need to confirm they have Public Liability insurance cover of £5million for roadside working.

How can a Speed Indication Device (SID) be obtained?

Enquiries on suitable device types and possible supplier contacts should be directed to the local Neighbourhood Policing officer.

• View this information in a Community SpeedWatch poster (PDF 213 Kb - opens new window).