18 September 2015 Suffolk Roadsafe targets speeding enforcement in the county’s villages Funding to support more targeted speeding enforcement right across the county was agreed in yesterday’s Roadsafe meeting, chaired by Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Cllr James Finch and held at Police Headquarters in Martlesham. (September 16) Money secured through speed awareness diversionary courses has been allocated for an additional community speed enforcement officer and van which can be deployed in the county’s villages. The new officer will have a smaller van which means the officer can reach the more rural locations which the bigger van cannot. This new community officer and smaller vehicle will be addressing particular concerns from Suffolk residents and communities who have raised the subject that enforcement currently focusses on the county’s main ‘A’ roads and not in villages. Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “At every public meeting I attend and in my post bag, speeding in villages is raised as a major issue. I am very pleased to support this increase in enforcement and look forward to getting this new van on the road in the new year.” Cllr James Finch said: “Collectively, we want to see a reduction in the number of collisions and deaths caused by driving at high speed across Suffolk. I am pleased to support the work of our partners in the police as they communicate the dangers of speeding to local residents in our towns and villages. I hope that this new enforcement measure will reduce the risks to road users and pedestrians in Suffolk’s village communities.” Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of roads policing in the county said: “Suffolk’s speed enforcement vehicles are deployed right across the county on roads where there is an on-going risk of collisions or where there have been substantiated complaints from local people. The smaller vehicle with more portable equipment allows greater flexibility for our deployment and enhances our capability to respond to the communities needs. “I am very pleased to have Roadsafe’s on-going support for our enforcement programme.” Suffolk Roadsafe is a partnership of Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Police, the Police and Prime Commissioner, Suffolk Fire and Rescue, East of England Ambulance Service, Highways England and Public Health. At its most recent meeting, held yesterday, the group reviewed casualty statistics from 2014 to agree enforcement, education and engineering in the county. Highways England gave an update on its five-year health and safety plan which is due to be launched in October and the county council gave an update on its engineering scheme for this financial year.