Do you have just a couple of hours a month to volunteer? Are you passionate about keeping the local roads safer for all users? You could be an invaluable addition to the already establish Community Speedwatch Team.
Community Speedwatch (CSW) teams operate across the whole of Dorset and are made of volunteers giving up their time to monitor traffic and report back to Dorset Police. Their authority to operate comes direct from the Chief Constable and there are over 800 wonderful people already acting as a highly visible deterrent at the roadside.
CSW focuses on education over enforcement. If you are caught by a team your vehicle details are passed to Dorset Police and you will be issued a first warning letter, which is a polite reminder to be more mindful of your speed in future. A second letter in an 18 month period is more strongly worded and should a driver reach letter 3 this is hand delivered by a uniformed officer who will give very stern words of advice. A third letter may also result in onward referral to our No Excuse colleagues for more direct targeting as an OP DRAGOON subject.
Persistent high speeders are prioritised, tracked down and dealt with robustly. On occasion the team are joined by an enforcement officer who is dedicate to the CSW teams, they bring with them a different type of camera which is used to issue points and fines not just a warning letter. The equipment the teams use takes no recordings or video, but simply displays on the screen the speed only. Other information such as vehicle registration, make , colour has to be manually recorded.
CSW teams are very much our eyes and ears at the roadside and will also report anyone using a mobile phone at the wheel. All data collected by our teams may be used for focussed days of action.
For anyone reluctant to take part due to the obvious concerns regarding abuse, we take a very dim view of any form of abuse directed towards our teams of volunteers and have a proven follow up process for all those guilty of abuse whatever form it may take.
CSW volunteers come from all backgrounds and all walks of life. The minimum age is 18 and there is no maximum – we even have some still operating into their 90’s. CSW teams are notoriously very sociable so it can provide a way to get out and meet with new people whilst carrying out an invaluable service to the local Community. There are no barriers to being a volunteer you just need to be able to stand for an hour and be able to read a number plate at the standard 20 m ( this can also be done from a wheelchair or mobility scooter). We are a diverse and disability aware organisation.
If you have an interest in joining we provide all the necessary training and would love to welcome you!
Any questions please contact me at maria-louise.attwood@dorset.pnn.police.uk
