Central Scotland Police

Road Policing Unit

The Road Policing Unit consists of an inspector, six sergeants, 32 constables, five support staff including a driving instructor, and two road safety assistants.

We have a fleet of 20 vehicles which includes two motorway patrol vehicles, ten cars, six motorcycles and a collision investigation vehicle.

Inspector Graeme Allan is in charge of the Road Policing Unit which is based at Headquarters in Randolphfield.

We are committed in making the roads in Scotland safer by reducing death, injury and crime.

In 2001 the Government set a new 10-year target to reduce injuries on our roads against the average for 1994/98. By 2010 they wish to achieve:

• a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured
• a 50 per cent reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured
• a 10 per cent reduction in the slight casualty rate

Central Scotland Police are the only force in the UK to have achieved these targets - four years ahead of schedule - but we are not complacent.

To assist the Government's objective's the force's targets are: 174 killed or seriously injured 26 children killed or seriously injured; and 811 slight casualties.

In 2006 our actual figures achieved were: 161 killed or seriously injured; 24 children killed or seriously injured and 760 slight casualties.

Inspector Graeme Allan, said: "We are delighted the force has made this significant achievement but we will not rest until we see a further significant reduction in casualties. Every casualty means pain for the family involved."

He added: "We have a very active Road Policing Unit and over the years we have dramatically increased the number of high profile campaigns. We believe this has had a significant effect on the casualty reduction.

"But even one road death is one too many.

"In addition, a great deal of work has been carried out by the local councils and the Scottish Executive to improve road conditions and driving standards have also improved."

We believe that we can reduce the number of road deaths and injuries through education, engineering, encouragement and enforcement.

• Education - changing attitudes and enhancing road skills
• Engineering - making vehicles and roads safer
• Enforcement - detecting those who present an unacceptable risk
• Encouragement - promoting responsible road user behaviour

Enforcement

Irresponsible behaviour on the road network in our area must be made socially unacceptable. We will work towards improving the behaviour of all road users including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, riders or passengers. We know what is acceptable and we give a commitment to promote and encourage a more responsible attitude.

We carry out this enforcement in several ways:

• Speed Enforcement - We ensure the traveling public adhere to the various speed limits by using various methods . These include marked cars, unmarked cars, hand held radar and Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder (VASCAR).
• Vehicle Safety - Road Policing Officers carry out road checks and examine private cars and vans to ensure they are compliant with various legislation. We also carry out checks with other agencies such as DWP and SEPA to ensure other laws are not being broken.
• Commercial Vehicles - RPU officers along with VOSA carry out compliance checks on commercial vehicles based within, and traveling through, the force area. These checks cover vehicle and document maintenance which includes ensuring the legislation covering tachographs and drivers’ hours are being adhered to.

Speeding and lack of use of seatbelts still remain the dominant factors for casualties in most collisions and this remains the main thrust of enforcement.

Road/Travelling Crime

Although officers within the RPU deal predominantly with proactive road safety measures much of their time is also used to target all varieties of traveling criminals. All RPU patrol vehicles are fitted with the latest electronic equipment which assists us to detect issues including terror suspects, organised crime, drug couriers, car theft, disqualified drivers to vehicles with no insurance and unlicensed drivers.

Collision Prevention Unit

This office provides valuable input into road safety and traffic management. Officers liaise with local authorities, network agencies and the Scottish Executive to advise on traffic management issues and collision avoidance.

Currently officers are involved in dealing with the contractors for the new Kincardine Bridge and have attended all the meetings concerned and advise on the ever changing road layout at Bowtrees Roundabout.

Road Safety officers work out of this unit and are closely involved with all educational and enforcement initiatives as well as working closely with all school children throughout the force area from an early age.

Collision Investigation

There are eight officers who specialise in investigating collisions. This means in its simplest form working out what caused a collision, what direction the vehicles were traveling and at what speed. A new Collision Investigation vehicle, a Mitsubishi L200 4WD, has been recently added to their fleet. It replaces a 10-year-old Range Rover. The purpose built vehicle contains all the necessary equipment officers need to carry out their jobs while investigating collisions.

Sergeant Jim Allan, senior collision investigator, said: "It is the first of its kind in the force and it is vital to our work.

"Previously some equipment was kept in the Range Rover and other items such as lights and generators were kept at Headquarters. It was time consuming and inconvenient to wait on pieces of equipment to come from Headquarters. Now this means we can be a lot more effective and progress with investigations more speedily."

Chief Inspector Donald McMillan, head of the force's RPU and Support Services, added: "Last year there were 18 road deaths which is 18 too many. We really do hope that this vehicle does not turn a wheel but in reality we know in all likelihood that it will.

"Although we met our targets for reducing casualties and deaths four years ahead of schedule we are not complacent and our driving aim is to continue to improve safety on our roads for everyone. This vehicle is a key part of trying to achieve that."

He explained that fatal collisions meant roads were closed 18 times last year to allow essential skilled investigation work to be carried out and evidence to be gathered.

"Some people don't understand that a road can be closed from 4-12 hours while we are carrying out investigation work. We need to be thorough especially after a fatal accident where there could be a prosecution which could result in somebody being given up to 12 years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

The new vehicle is on standby 24 hours a day and also carries specialist surveying equipment which is used to provide scaled diagrams of the scene of a collision or incident.

Family Liaison

Eight constables are specially trained to deal with families who have suffered a bereavement as a result of a collision.

Inspector Graeme Allan said: "Our first priority where there is a bereavement is to appoint an officer to be the Family Liaison Officer.

"Their role is to provide a link between the family and the police through the course of the investigation.

"In the first few days of the investigation the Family Liaison Officers play a critical role as they provide a valuable link and a single point of contact during a distressing time.