Traffic police numbers fall again

The number of dedicated traffic police officers in England and Wales has fallen again, according to Home Office figures published today, raising fresh concerns over the enforcement of drink-driving and other road traffic offences.

The latest Police Workforce statistics show there are now 3,765 dedicated roads policing officers across the 43 police forces in England and Wales, down from 3,889 a year earlier.

The decline continues a long-term trend. Ten years ago there were 5,005 dedicated traffic officers – meaning numbers have now fallen by 25% over the past decade.

The figures come as ministers consider changes to drink-drive laws, including reducing the legal alcohol limit in England and Wales, as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.

Road safety campaigners say any change in the law will have limited impact unless there are sufficient specialist officers to enforce it.

Separate Home Office figures published earlier this year showed roadside breath testing has plummeted over the past decade.

Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of breathalyser firm AlcoSense Laboratories, said:

“Changing the law is one thing. Enforcing it is another.

“If ministers decide to lower the drink-drive limit, motorists need to believe there is a realistic chance of being stopped and tested.

“Unfortunately the number of dedicated roads policing officers has been moving in the opposite direction for years.

“The risk is that tougher laws become largely symbolic if the resources needed to enforce them continue to decline.”

Abbott said roads policing officers played a much wider role than simply catching speeding or drink-driving motorists.

“They are often the officers who intercept uninsured drivers, wanted criminals, drug traffickers and organised crime groups using the road network.

“Automatic cameras have an important role, but they cannot replace experienced officers making intelligence-led stops.”

The figures are published just days after reports that the Metropolitan Police is considering scrapping its dedicated Roads and Transport Policing Command as part of wider cost-cutting reforms.

Abbott said this risked sending the wrong message.

“Visible roads policing acts as a deterrent. If motorists believe the chances of being stopped are falling, that inevitably weakens enforcement.”

Previous AlcoSense research among 2,000 UK adults found that 58% believed the most effective way to reduce drink driving was a combination of lower alcohol limits and stronger police enforcement, rather than either measure alone.