Community Speedwatch

The residents of Bishopton are concerned about vehicles exceeding the speed limit in the village and have tried for some time to instigate Community Speedwatch. This is now happening in the village.

Community Speedwatch is not a Parish Council initiative but is supported by the Parish Council.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative where active members of local
communities join with the support of the Police to monitor speeds of vehicles using speed
detection devices.

Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the Police with the aim of educating
drivers to reduce their speeds. In cases where education is blatantly ignored and evidence of
repeat or excessive offences is collated (even across county borders), enforcement and
prosecution follow.

CSW Online is working on behalf of the Police and communities to organise and coordinate
CSW activity. Speeding is not just a local phenomenon – neither is Speedwatch.

Speeding continues to be a concern for many communities in both rural and urban
environments. Therefore, Community Speedwatch is not restricted to villages and rural
towns. Neighbourhood Policing Panels have an important role to play in developing safer
urban communities and the adoption of speedwatch schemes could assist them to more
easily achieve their goals.

Volunteers receive appropriate training, and are supported by neighbourhood policing team
(NPT) staff. The scheme aims to cater for the problem of real or perceived speed related
offending, and through partnership with the community it is to be used in circumstances that
are necessary, justifiable and proportionate in order to:

• Reduce death and injury on the roads

• Improve the quality of life for local communities

• Reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit

• Increase public awareness of inappropriate speed

Speedwatch activity is not about interfering with neighbours’ behaviour; it is a proactive
solution to improve the safety and quality of life for everyone in the community.