Speed camera cop peril

Mike Keegan

July 02, 2007

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SUSAN: Evasive action

A DRIVER has slammed `dangerous police tactics' after an incident with a traffic camera on a notorious stretch of motorway.

Midwife Susan Keane claimed she had to take evasive action after seeing what she thought was a missile thrower on the Brinnington steel bridge over the M60 near Bredbury, Stockport.

It turned out to be a policeman who was adjusting a camera. She said that she was concentrating on a tricky part of the road where two carriageways merge when she noticed someone `dancing around' on the bridge.

Susan, 42, said: "There's been a few instances of missile throwing from that very bridge. So I swerved out of the way which was dangerous in itself.

Juggling

"It was only when I looked up again that I realised it was a policeman who seemed to be juggling with a speed camera."

She was travelling to her home in Gorton, Manchester, when the incident happened.

She said: "This officer was literally dancing on the spot in order, I assume, to angle the camera at any motorist he could get. I don't have a problem with speed cameras, but distracting drivers on an already-dangerous stretch of motorway causes great concern."

Susan said she contacted the police control room and was waiting for a response.

Greater Manchester Police said that they had not received a complaint. A spokesman said the camera was part of a successful operation against uninsured drivers.

What do you think? Have your say.

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rlfan, greater manchester (02/07/2007 at 09:26)

So the camera was'nt generating enough cash & they decided to up the cash flow by putting an officer on the bridge to man it...
Bet the cash the camera earned that day paid for his monthly salary twice over,
& put more bobbies on the street...
or am i just being cynical

john (02/07/2007 at 11:52)

It is the railway bridge that is cause for concern with stone throwers, was this police officer on the railway ? if so he was trespassing and should be prosecuted for the offence.
If as i believe he was on the road bridge then this lady had no cause for concern over and above the normal concerns of day to day travel this area, and with a speed limit of 50 mph i dont think a swerve to avoid was really necessary was it?.
If he was on the railway bridge then please report it to british transport police and insist it is investigated.

moggsy, manchester (02/07/2007 at 12:55)

I doubt very very very much that an "on duty" officer was on a railway bridge going trackside and as john says trespassing!!.... I would agree with john that it would be a road bridge and if he had a speed camera in his hand then he would have had a marked car parked up on the bridge too!, but i also agree that perhaps she should have been watching the road ahead rather than whats going on above her!..... i personally think she was speeding has been done for it and wants revenge on the officer!!

Joe (02/07/2007 at 22:12)

The cop probably wasn't moving about. It was probably the driver applying her lipstick and trying to get the mirror in the right position. Anyone dare to come on here and tell me they haven't seen that being done !!! lol

ironside, worsley (02/07/2007 at 22:40)

police do use tactics you can see it all over,putting safty cameras behind signs.hiding round walls and on motorway bridges.i dont care what any one says they are laughting all the way to the bank.of course your going to look when some one is holing a camera at you and your car.

Pravda (03/07/2007 at 16:14)

Moggsy, i can assure you that when catching speeders from m/way bridges the police do not use marked cars. Usually unsigned people carriers. I personally, several years ago, was 'potted' by a one who was hiding on a garage forecourt behind a car. Obviously we can all see the aspect to road safety on that one. And before the moral brigade say 'serves yourself right' i agree, it does. I'm just adding to the debate of how sly they are usually done. If it was to do with safety then they should be high profile and not lurking behind every obstacle available. Otherwise the cynical amongst us then claim it is nothing but a money making scam.

Road Safety Officer, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 20:36)

From what the police spokesperson says this camera sounds like an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) camera. Why then does the headline mention speed camera? Probably to fuel the debate on speed cameras. I'm sure most law abiding drivers are pleased that the police regularly tackle the issue of uninsured and untaxed drivers.
Whilst on the subject of speed cameras- most cameras are operated through Drivesafe camera partnership and each fixed camera must be both conspicuous and signed in advance. The site must have had at least 3 KSI's (killed or seriously injured)in the previous 3 years. Mobile camera routes also have to reach a similar ksi criteria and must be signed at every km intervals.
However, we ask also ask the police to enforce the limit at locations in which the community have concern- again we must provide supporting data for this to happen. I have lost count the number of times I have tried to convince the doubters that it is not a money making scheme. Up until recently we never got a penny from the cameras- now however, they pay to employ a member of staff to train infant children to cross the road safely as part of our child pedestrian training programme.

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