Relationship between the police and the Highways Agency

Is the Highways Agency control room used to detect speeding on motorways and do the Highways Agency Traffic Officers provide information about speeding drivers to police on the ground?

Traffic Officers are trained to a high standard in everything from First Aid and safety, to dealing with customers, traffic management and the use of technology.

Generally they assist the police at accident scenes. Where incidents occur the police will still retain responsibility for investigation of criminality.

However, the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service will help to coordinate resources of other emergency services, manage traffic and re-open routes.

Traffic officers officially assist as follows:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Removing damaged and abandoned vehicles
• Clearing debris on carriageways
  
• Undertaking high visibility patrols
• Providing mobile/temporary road closures
• Supporting police in their duties

In terms of the control rooms and probably regarding officers on the ground it is inevitable that they provide information to the police as they work so closely with them, but we have never heard of an occasion where testimony of a traffic officer working for the Highways Agency has been used without supporting evidence being brought by a police officer.

Similarly while the control room cameras are not specifically used for the purposes of catching speeding motorists they are used to report dangerous behaviour and could be used to provide supporting evidence for speeding or any other offence.

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