Under Operation Mile, each Neighbourhood Team (NPT) and Response & Patrol (R&P) team on the Island will be assigned a specific stretch of road where there will be additional dedicated patrol activity and enforcement work.
The road allocation will be intelligence-led, based on data surrounding our hotspot areas for serious collisions and dangerous driving behaviours, as well as the ever-important information provided to us by the public.
“We know how much of a concern driving standards on the Island are to the public,” said Inspector Matt Gooding. The Isle of Wight Police Department receives a large number of calls and reports about road issues, which range from our most serious ‘Fatal Four’ driving behaviours – drink and drug driving, driving without a seatbelt, driving while using a mobile phone, and speeding – to anti-social issues like vehicle noise and nuisance. This is in addition to our response to road collisions.
“We have recently brought on board our two new dedicated Roads Policing officers, who are already doing a fantastic job alongside their dual skilled armed response and roads policing (RP/ARV) colleagues to proactively take action against road users who pose a risk behind the wheel.
“Road safety is much broader than this still, and requires a collaborative effort from all of our police colleagues as well as our partners.
“Incorporating teams such as NPT and R&P into the roads policing picture allows us to improve our effectiveness at targeting bad drivers, whilst having a greater visible presence in problem areas to deter motorists from continuing their bad habits whilst driving.
It’s important for the public to understand that whilst NPT and R&P will be providing support to our roads policing priorities, this does not mean that they will be neglecting their other workloads or response to other crime types. These teams continue to play critical roles in addressing crime trends and responding to emergency calls in our communities. This will not change or be affected by the new initiative.
“What will happen is that officers will spend more time out in hotspot areas whilst they continue to manage their other priorities. For example, if an officer is required to perform administrative tasks after responding to a call for service, they will be expected to do so remotely while parked in a hotspot area rather than returning to the office. This will allow them to maintain a more visible presence on the road, deterring or responding to any road-related crimes in that area.
“With more teams putting greater focus on our roads it also enables us to get a much fuller picture of which areas are impacted by bad driving. There is frequently a perception in the community as to which areas have been the most severely impacted, but our intelligence gathering and patrol activity will provide us with a much more accurate understanding.
“It is critical that the public continue to report their concerns and any crimes they have witnessed to us.”
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