PCC launches new roads policing unit in west of the county

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore launched a new roads policing team in Bury St Edmunds today (Wednesday 9th March)

The new team, which comprises four uniformed officers and two marked police vehicles, will be based at Bury St Edmunds police station and cover the west of the county.

Tim Passmore said “Roads Policing is a top priority for us here in Suffolk.

“While many police forces are cutting their traffic police, Suffolk is one of only two constabularies to invest in this area and I am very proud of this.

“Keeping us safe on our roads is an important role of the roads police, they enforce the law and they educate us too.

“I am very pleased to launch this new unit in the west of the county.  I sincere hope this additional visible policing will help cut the numbers of people seriously injured or killed on our roads.

He added, “Road safety is the responsibility of all of us, whether as a driver or a pedestrian. I would like to take this opportunity to ask every driver in the county to take extra care and drive carefully.”

Chief Inspector Kris Barnard, the new Head of Suffolk and Norfolk Roads Policing and Firearms Unit, said;

“This new Road Casualty Reduction team will allow us to enhance our proactive efforts to enforce and educate regarding the most common causes of death and injury in collisions on our roads, namely: drink and drug driving, use of mobile phones, speeding and not wearing seat belts.

“We will be able to specifically target vulnerable routes and undertake further initiatives and campaigns with our Suffolk Road Safe partners all with the aim of improving road safety.”

The Constabulary will deploy these four additional police constables to the Roads Policing Unit in Bury St Edmunds to specifically focus on casualty reduction and deliver the Casualty reduction strand of Suffolk Constabulary’s Road Safety Strategy. Their work will complement the County’s Roads Policing and Firearms Unit.

 

Pictured: Tim Passmore and the new roads policing team