A NEW mobile speedwatch unit was launched in Teesdale last week, which police say will make the area much safer.
The unit can be used by police and volunteers alike to quickly deploy in villages and hot spots, without the need to lug heavy equipment around.
The van is one of two, which were jointly funded by the area action partnerships in Teesdale (TAP) and Weardale, police and crime commissioner Joy Allen and Durham County Council.
The other vehicle will be based in Weardale.
TAP contributed £15,980 towards the van.
Fittingly, the vehicles were launched in Staindrop where parish councillors have been asking for more to be done to slow traffic along the A688 and a new volunteer speedwatch group was started earlier this year.
Inspector Ed Turner, of Barnard Castle Police, welcomed the arrival of the vehicles. He said: “I am delighted. We can really start making a difference in making Teesdale and Weardale safer.”
Insp Turner pointed out that the equipment has automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) as well as a camera, negating the need for volunteers to write down the number plates of vehicles exceeding the speed limit as they would have done with the existing kit.
He added: “This professionalises and makes the process much more credible.
“We can operate in all weathers and it is more effective as well. The use of technology really does emphasise how much we value people helping us.”
It would also help meet the demand for action in the dale, the inspector said.
He said: “We get a lot of complaints in rural communities about speeding, more complaints than we can service because there is so much demand on us.”
PCSO Liz Finn, who has helped set up speedwatch volunteer groups in the dale, said the vehicle would be shared between police and volunteer groups. However, volunteers would have to attend a short course before they are cleared to drive and use the vehicle, she said.
TAP co-ordinator Adam White confirmed complaints about speeding are widespread throughout the dale.
He added: “The vehicles will not only provide a tool to educate motorists, they will also allow the local neighbourhood police team to provide a visual deterrent, if anti-social behaviour is identified in local areas, by acting as a mobile police station.”
