Specials now nicking speeders

Volunteer cops get radar

Volunteer cops are now being allowed to use speed enforcement cameras to keep errant motorists in check.

Devon and Cornwall Police's special officers are being trained on the devices for the first time that such equipment has been used by them for enforcement purposes.

One special constable,Mike Fleming, based in South Devon, has already caught a driver speeding at 109mph on the A38.

He said: "I have been personally shocked at just how many people are speeding on our roads. Hopefully this expanded presence of speed monitoring will encourage drivers to slow down."

The locations they chose are selected based on statistics, previous collision data and complaints from residents about speeding.

The training is funded by Vision Zero South West, a partnership between organisations across Devon and Cornwall committed to cutting the number of road deaths and serious injuries in the region to zero.

The group includes senior police and fire officers, leading clinicians, councillors and the police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Adrian Leisk, head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police and chair of the Vision Zero South West enforcement committee, said: "Driving too fast gives you less time to react and increases your risk of sustaining serious or fatal injuries in the event of a collision."

He said the special constables can use the cameras at any time of the day or night using infrared technology.