06/2012 – Safety Camera Van: Use of Levies and Media Profile – 28 November 2012
Executive Summary and recommendation:
This paper is presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner to outline the ongoing expansion of the North Yorkshire Police Safety Camera Van from its current pilot operation to a fully commissioned, expanded operation. It is anticipated that there will be excess levies generated as a result of the operation of the Safety Camera Vans, the PCC is asked to direct that any excess levies be focused on road safety initiatives.
- The Police and Crime Commissioner is asked for support to re-invest excess levies generated from the operation of the Safety Camera Van into wider road safety initiatives.
- If the Police and Crime Commissioner supports the previous bullet point, that the established county and city wide multi agency road safety partnership, 95Alive, is commissioned to develop proposals for the expenditure of excess levies. The proposals must be mapped to clear, definable road safety outcomes.
- The Police and Crime Commissioner is asked to consider and give direction on engagement in the communications plan that will support the project.
Police and Crime Commissioner decision:
- That the recommendations be approved.
- That in developing a process for the reinvestment of income in road safety initiatives, the 95Alive Partnership be asked to ensure that proposals for funding should be evidence based with clear outcomes so that such projects can be properly evaluated.
- That an evaluation be carried out of which elements of the speed awareness courses produce the most benefit;
- That further thought be given to the way in which North Yorkshire Police’s speed management protocol is communicated within the policing area be developed to promote a better understanding of this issue within communities.
Signature Date 28 November 2012
Title Police & Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire
Unrestricted facts and advice to the PCC
Introduction
This paper is presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner with the intention of detailing the expansion of the North Yorkshire Police Safety Camera Van from its current pilot operation to a fully commissioned, expanded operation.
- The Police and Crime Commissioner is asked for support to re-invest excess levies generated from the operation of the Safety Camera Van into wider road safety initiatives.
- If the Police and Crime Commissioner supports the previous bullet point, that the established county and city wide multi agency road safety partnership, 95Alive, is commissioned to develop proposals for the expenditure of excess levies. The proposals must be mapped to clear, definable road safety outcomes.
- The Police and Crime Commissioner is asked to consider and give direction on engagement in the communications plan that will support the project.
Background
NYP operates a single safety camera van enforcement vehicle, staffed by seconded police officers and supported by administrative staff within the Central Ticket Office at North Yorkshire Police. The pilot commenced in July 2011 to assess the opportunities and needs for safety camera vans.
The vehicle was deployed to address three priorities in line with the Control Strategy Delivery Plan ‘Policing the Roads’ :-
- Fatal and serious injury collision sites where speed was considered contributory to the collision
- Exceptional sites – where community concerns over the speed of vehicles was validated by data obtained from covert monitoring under the partnership speed management protocol
- Motorcycle routes, locations that also attract significant community concern.
Data relating to the first year of operation, including deployment sites and associated violations, can be found in Appendix 1.
An early evaluation of the pilot operation submitted to the North Yorkshire Police Authority highlighted:
- A reduction in collisions at identified sites where excess or inappropriate speed was considered to be a contributory factor
- Camera operators noted a significant change in driver behaviour when revisiting sites, this is borne out by a reduction in high and medium speed offences at a number of locations
- Positive media and public feedback, including a number of press articles which generated favourable comments in dealing with community speed complaints
The pilot also identified a number of areas where significant improvements to the pilot operation could be made:
- Logistical issues with regard to the geographical size of the County, location of staff and the availability of only one enforcement vehicle
- Staffing numbers to deal with the processing of violations
- Technical issues with regard to the ability to detect motorcycle violations
- Improving back office technology in order to process significant numbers of violations
Project outcomes
The primary aim of the project is to reduce the number of people killed or injured on the roads of the City of York and North Yorkshire.
This aim is broken down by a number of key outcomes:-
- This aim is broken down by a number of key outcomes:-
- Through a demonstration of year on year reductions in collisions and casualties.
- By using intelligence to identify sites for deployment of mobile speed camera enforcement
- Speeding hotspots identified by local communities are responded to
- Through the assessment of community generated speed complaints to determine suitable locations for mobile camera operations
- Casualties are prevented on the most troublesome routes
- By using intelligence to identify routes that have a high casualty rate for specific vulnerable road users
- Providing high visibility and appropriate action on the identified routes
- Driver attitudes are positively influenced towards road safety
- By delivering a robust media message towards dangerous driving – especially speeding
- The public are aware of the outcomes of the use of safety camera vans
- By communicating the intended outcomes and results to communities
- By reassuring the public of the purpose to improve road safety and educate drivers
- Through transparency of the project
Current position
In September 2012 NYPA supported the expansion of the one van pilot to a fully established three van model of delivery, the aim of which is to deliver an effective, intelligence led and sustained programme of speed enforcement utilising mobile enforcement technology with the impact of reducing casualties, improving community life and delivering appropriate justice to errant offenders
North Yorkshire Police is currently delivering the expansion project, Appendix 2 demonstrates the project timeline, that in support of the project outcomes will deliver the following objectives:
- Deliver three mobile safety camera enforcement vans and an enquiry support vehicle purchased in accordance with NYP procurement rules.
- Equip the three safety camera vans with the latest laser speed devices and integrated camera technology which will be capable of detecting violations from approaching and receding vehicles in both daylight and low light conditions.
- Recruit 9 police staff for enforcement operations supported by a seconded police constable. To work to a robust and structured shift pattern that maximises deployment time across the large geographical expanse of North Yorkshire and the City of York, capturing violations during dawn to dusk / winter to summer working hours
- Recruit an additional 9 police staff to support back office processing, monitoring and management, bolstered by an effective software solution that automates the validation process.
Recruitment of a dedicated data analyst to ensure the whole process is intelligence driven and supports the aims and objectives of the project. - Provision of additional financial income that will be re-invested to sustain and enhance the activity being undertaken across North Yorkshire and City of York to reduce road casualties.
Matters for consideration
Excess levies
Based on the experience of the pilot project it is estimated, following delivery of the enhanced operating model, that excess levies, funds remaining after the running costs have been removed, will be generated to the following levels.
- Year 1 £225k
- Year 2 £515k
- Year 3 £447k
Public opinion on “speed cameras” is often polarised into two distinct camps. Firstly those who fully support their use, recognising the significant improvements in road safety that can be achieved through their intelligence led use. Secondly, there are those who feel that the only outcome of their use is cash generation and that any monies raised are not focused on road safety but used to fund other policing or public sector activity.
The second group could turn the current public opinion from one of supporting the use of the safety camera vans to a strong negative view. It is for this reason that NYP proposes that a transparent, outcome focused approach to the spending of the excess levies be developed. The “95Alive” partnership has a strong track record of casualty reduction through education, engineering and enforcement across North Yorkshire and the City of York. It is for these reasons that the Police and Crime Commissioner is asked to commission the development of proposals for the expenditure of excess levies through the “95Alive” partnership. The proposals must be mapped to clear, definable road safety outcomes. This approach would support the ongoing work of the partnership at a time when the central funding of road safety initiatives is being significantly reduced.
COMMUNICATIONS
The role of internal and external communications is an essential aspect that influences the success of the safety camera van programme. The media can be, and is, used to further enhance the impact of each vans deployment. Recent examples include media coverage of “high speed” cases being presented at court.
Through the development of the safety camera van expansion programme a high level media and public relations plan was developed, see Appendix 3. It is anticipated that the Police and Crime Commissioner would seek to demonstrate commitment to further improving road safety, to this end the Commissioner is asked to consider and give direction as to her engagement in the communications plan that will support the programme.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE POLICING PLAN 2012-15
The reduction of those killed and seriously injured on the roads of North Yorkshire is a clearly defined objective within the current policing plan. The implementation of the enhanced safety camera van operation will produce outcomes that directly contribute to the achieving of this objective. The impact will be further enhanced if the excess levies defined above are used to fund wider road safety initiatives across North Yorkshire and the City of York.
The national funding of road safety initiatives has been significantly reduced through the current CSR period. The ability to use levies as articulated in this paper will enable the 95Alive partnership to continue to take forward its invaluable work in reducing casualties across North Yorkshire and the City of York.
CONSULTATION
North Yorkshire Police safer neighbourhood teams undertake daily engagement with the communities they serve as well as more structured meetings with the community to establish local matters of concern. The issue of road safety, specifically speeding vehicles, is a consistent issue across all safer neighbourhood areas.
Consultation was undertaken in the preparation of the business case, presented to North Yorkshire Police Authority in September 2012, across a number of organisations. The organisations include North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Scarborough Borough Council, Highways Agency, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance all as part of the 95Alive partnership. The North Yorkshire Police Authority as elected and independent members of the community of North Yorkshire and the City of York played a key role in the consultation.
Early consultation was undertaken with Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunal Service and The Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that an enhanced operation is manageable within their area of business.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The income levels contained within the business case proposals are forecast on a straight line basis predicated on the experience of the one pilot van that has been in operation. The proposal that any surplus funds are reinvested into road safety should also incorporate a requirement to allocate such funding based on actual performance of the vehicles. This will ensure that any risks associated with delivery of income forecasts are managed prior to allocating funding to new road safety initiatives.
The technical financial treatment for this paper has considered the financial implications of the proposals, accepting there remains a lack of clarity on certain elements of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act that may have a bearing on these activities. All efforts will be made to manage any unforeseen financial implications resulting from clarification of these elements in order to manage within the current financial plans.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
In the opinion of the Director of Legal & Compliance Services the proposals set out in this report are lawful.
EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS
There are no negative diversity or equality impacts as a result of this proposal. There is however the potential for the expansion of the safety camera van project to reduce the likelihood of individuals becoming victims of road traffic collisions. Given that two of our key casualty groups are young and older drivers there are potential positive equalities benefits.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The early success of the pilot safety camera van operation in relation to casualty reduction figures, and the improved quality of life in local communities, support the continued use of mobile enforcement technology.
The effectiveness of speed cameras has been well documented and those effects have been evident across the force area for the last 12 months, there has been a distinct and measurable impact on vehicle speeds which can be attributed to a shift change in driver behaviour. Mobile enforcement provides a more flexible option over fixed site cameras and is more suited to the needs of North Yorkshire and the City of York. There is no room for complacency and the enhanced operation will build on the benefits achieved to date.
The three van safety camera operation is appropriate to the geographical features of the County and with the appropriate staffing and infrastructure will provide an effective tool to meet the objectives outlined.
The projections made with regard the educational element provided by speed awareness courses will ensure the operation is self funding whilst also providing additional financial support to other road safety initiatives through the strategic road safety partnership ’95 Alive’.
The Police and Crime Commissioner is requested to:
- Support the proposal that any excess levies generated from the operation of the Safety Camera Van should be invested in wider road safety initiatives.
- If the Police and Crime Commissioner supports the previous bullet point she is asked to commission the established county and city wide multi agency road safety partnership, 95Alive, to develop proposals for the expenditure of excess levies. The proposals must be mapped to clear, definable road safety outcomes.
- Consider and give direction as to her engagement in the communications plan that will support the programme.
| Tick to confirm statement √ | |
|---|---|
| Director/Chief Officer Acc Spittal has reviewed the request and is satisfied that it is correct and consistent with the NYPCC’s plans and priorities. | √ |
| Legal Advice Legal advice has been sought on this proposal and is considered not to expose the PCC to risk of legal challenge. | √ |
| Financial Advice The CC CFO has both been consulted on this proposal, for which budgetary provision already exists or is to be made in accordance with Part 1 or Part 2 of this Notice | √ |
| Equalities Advice An assessment has been made of the equality impact of this proposal. Either there is considered to be minimal impact or the impact is outlined in Part1 or Part2 of this Notice. | √ |
| I confirm that all the above advice has been sought and received and I am satisfied that this is an appropriate request to be submitted for a decision Iain Spittal Date 16 November 2012 |
- Published on