Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has welcomed the launch of a new Roads Policing Unit (RPU) Tasking Team.
The team will deliver a more strategic and targeted approach to road safety across the Thames Valley - including Milton Keynes - using data and intelligence to identify areas of greatest risk and highest harm. The team will then proactively deploy to these locations to directly address the behaviours and offences driving those risks.
“The creation of the Roads Policing Unit Tasking Team will be a major boost in Thames Valley Police’s capability to bear down on the dangerous and illegal drivers who put others at risk on our roads," Matthew Barber said.
“Their evidence-based approach will focus enforcement in the areas presenting the greatest risk, targeting irresponsible and illegal behaviours.
“Effective enforcement plays a critical role in deterring dangerous behaviour and reducing fatalities on our roads but there also needs to be consistent and collaborative partnership working between the agencies responsible for the road network across the Thames Valley if we are to enhance safety and continue to see a year-on-year reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“The creation of the Thames Valley Strategic Road Safety Partnership through my Road Safety Strategy seeks to strengthen this collaboration and ensure a multi-agency approach to creating safer roads for all.”
Inspector Simon Hills of the Roads Policing Unit added: “The RPU team’s primary focus will be proactive roads policing and enforcement, and the public should expect to see increased action against those who break the law.
“The team will be using all available enforcement options at their disposal in order to effectively target those road users who choose to put themselves and others at risk through dangerous, impaired or irresponsible driving.
“Taskings will be set through our internal processes, ensuring that deployments are always rooted in intelligence, robust data, and a clear understanding of where intervention is needed most.
“In addition to their proactive work, the team will support local policing operations wherever possible and will also target those individuals known to us through intelligence, including those involved in drink or drug driving.
“We will be better equipped than ever to prevent danger and save lives.”
