Npcc Roads Policing Strategic Review
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A strategic review that describes the state of roads policing in 2019. NPCC ROADS POLICING STRATEGIC REVIEW Review completed by: Dean Hatton Executive Business Manager NPCC Roads Policing For Chief Constable Anthony Bangham June 2019. Final revision 10th July 2019 O OFFICIAL 1 OFFICIAL Contents Aim and Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Summary of Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 5 NPCC 3 Year Strategy ‘Policing our roads together’ ............................................................................... 7 Breakdown of ‘Fatal 4’ Offending and Policing ..................................................................................... 11 Speeding ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs ............................................................................... 17 Case study – Drug Driving Essex Police ......................................................................................... 18 Seat belt offences ............................................................................................................................. 21 Case Study – Seat belt non-compliance in the West Midlands Region ........................................ 22 Mobile phones and distracted driving .............................................................................................. 23 Case Study – Operation Tramline ................................................................................................. 26 Resources .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Case Study – Road Harm Reduction Team (RHRT) West Midlands Police .................................... 30 Case study – Gloucestershire Police Special Constabulary Roads Policing Team ......................... 32 Strategic Influences and Opportunities ................................................................................................ 34 Home Office and DfT Road Safety Project ........................................................................................ 34 Technology ........................................................................................................................................ 35 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).................................................................................. 36 Case study – Operation Tutelage .................................................................................................. 36 Dashcam footage .............................................................................................................................. 37 CRaSH ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Police Pursuits ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Specialist Capabilities Programme ........................................................................................................ 41 Roads Intelligence ............................................................................................................................. 41 Forensic Collision Investigation ........................................................................................................ 44 Policing Our Roads as a Priority ............................................................................................................ 46 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 48 2 OFFICIAL Aim and Limitations 1. This review was commissioned by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead officer for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, to describe the current state of roads policing. 2. The review is not a Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment. However it identifies recommendations for improvements in working practices and processes, as well as recommendations to strengthen the link between the NPCC roads policing strategy and its operational delivery. 3. The most up to date published data has been used to compile this review, this includes the Government Reported Road Casualties Annual Report 2017 and Government Statistics on Police Powers and Procedures in England and Wales (year ending 31st March 2018). 4. HM Government Reported Roads Casualties Report 2018 is yet to be published. Methodology 5. This review has been completed by drawing on a range of statistical analysis from both published government sources and National Roads Operations and Intelligence (formerly the National Roads Police Intelligence Forum – NRPIF). 6. Other sources of information and opinion are drawn from key influential thinkers in this space, such as the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport safety (PACTS), the Roads Policing Academic Network (RPAN) and the RAC foundation. 7. Some specialist areas have provided written updates which have been edited to ensure they provide sufficient detail without overwhelming the review. 8. Finally, case studies and feedback from front line police officers have been used to provide an operational perspective to the delivery of key policing activity within this area of business. 9. All sources are referenced throughout the review. 3 OFFICIAL Introduction 10. When we think of roads policing we tend to think of ‘specialist’ teams or officers, we often overlook how many others contribute to ‘policing our roads’ every day. 11. Denying the criminal use of our roads is a staple policing activity for many police officers, police staff and volunteers. However, police officer led enforcement activity to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads is declining. 12. In some ways how we police our roads has not changed for decades. Of course ANPR technology and the automated speed enforcement camera have become more prevalent, but generally we rely on personal interventions to advise motorists or to issue fixed penalty notices. These interventions can often lead to the discovery of other criminal activity and are a vital policing tool. 13. The public rarely invite roads policing interventions. Therefore policing our roads is an important policing activity which brings us into contact with members of the public, many of whom may not have had dealings with the police before and who may never interact with the police again so it’s important we get it right. 14. The public want to be involved in policing our roads, they set up community speed watch schemes in their local communities, they send us dash-cam footage of inappropriate driving or behaviour and they condemn drink driving. 15. At a time when increased demand is putting significant pressure on the capacity of ‘pro-active’ policing, often associated with roads policing, we are seeing a significant reduction in these police officer led enforcements. 16. However, for the first time we are also seeing significant interest from both the Home Office and the Department for Transport in how we police our roads. The Joint Roads Safety Project, described later in this review, has an NPCC officer seconded to it, as agreed at Chief Constables Council in April 2019. This will ensure the police has a strategic voice in any changes or recommendations made by central government. 17. On average five people are killed on our roads every day. This figure has remained stubbornly high for almost a decade. There is an opportunity to think differently about this area of police business and to consider how we prioritise policing our roads together for the foreseeable future. 18. This review will describe current roads policing activity, with particular focus on roads safety and recommend areas for fresh thinking or a new approach to ensure we do as much as we can to reduce death and injury on our roads and support our partners and the public to make our roads the safest in the world. 4 OFFICIAL Summary of Recommendations 19. A summary of the recommendations made in this review are as follows: Recommendation 1: NPCC Roads Policing to restructure the NPCC campaign calendar to a more dynamic intelligent framework, bringing absolute focus to the ‘fatal 4’. Recommendation 2: NPCC Roads Policing to ensure participation in NPCC ‘fatal 4’ roads policing campaigns is the common minimum expectation required of all forces to support the national roads policing strategy. Recommendation 3: NPCC Roads Policing should explore opportunities for greater strategic collaboration with other key stakeholders on ‘fatal 4’ campaigns. Recommendation 4: NPCC Roads Policing to review new research into the relationship between road traffic law enforcement and its effect on KSIs. Recommendation 5: NPCC Roads Policing to encourage fresh public debate by partners, such as the Road Safety Trust