“I struggle to understand how it can be justified for those officers who carry out their duties on the Isle of Wight to not be trained to the same high standard as their colleagues in the rest of Hampshire” – they are the words of the Isle of Wight’s Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, as she adds her views to a campaign to bring back a dedicated Roads Policing Unit to the Isle of Wight.
A campaign being led by Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is gathering support with Isle of Wight Coroner now joining the debate.
Mrs Sumeray has referred to a letter she sent to Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney dated 7th April 2021, in which she said she was concerned that officers with specialities like armed response were expected to carry out road policing responsibilities without the same training in the areas that their mainland colleagues receive. She said:
“In my view… this could allow the public to believe that they are getting a second-rate standard of Roads Traffic Policing compared to that which is available in Hampshire which cannot be right or fair.”
“It is disappointing to read that these Officers have asked to receive this more specialist training (to accord with their duties) in line with their Hampshire colleagues, but that this has been refused by Hampshire Constabulary.”
“I struggle to understand how it can be justified for those Officers who carry out their duties on the Isle of Wight to not be trained to the same high standard as their colleagues in the rest of Hampshire – which, it goes without saying, is the same Police Force.”
Mrs Sumeray has said she accepts that there is no need for Isle of Wight RPU Officers to be trained on motorway driving and major trunk roads because there are none on the Island, however, she does support further training and a dedicated RPU for the Island.
Mr Seely has also written again to Police & Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, reiterating his call for a dedicated Roads Policing Unit for the Island following serious recent road traffic incidents.
In the letter he said:
“Road traffic incidents are indiscriminate, dangerous and often tragic; reminding drivers of a strong police presence along the Island’s roads could reinforce safe driving habits and the creation of a Specialised Roads Policing unit would be timely and potentially life-saving.
“Many Islanders agree that they feel less safe on Island roads. As mentioned in a previous letter, the House of Commons library has informed me that, in 2020, the killed/serious injury rate from road accidents on the Isle of Wight was the highest rate outside London, well above the South East’s average.
“I continue to receive correspondence from concerned constituents about dangerous driving, high speeds and noise related issues caused by illegal exhausts. A specialist RPU would go some way to ameliorating these issues. I am asking you to seriously consider the need for a dedicated Roads Policing Unit on the Isle of Wight.”
Mr Seely’s campaign has also gained support from the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council with some town and parish councils also on board.
Driving on the island is poor at times unfortunately people have incidents daily now, but weather we blame motorcycles with loud pipes as far as I’m concerned if they pass an MOT they are road legal.My biggest gripe is car drivers who blatantly go through a no entry sign going against the flow of traffic at Marlborough road Ryde this week while road improvements are in place that is just not good enough totally selfish and dangerous
Loud pipes save lives…speaking as an ex-biker.
Thought the whole idea of merging with Hampshire was to benefit from wider resources like training and regular access to specialists. Why merge in the first place if the policing needs of an Island are not the same?
Demerge for me.
Let’s hope this will go somewhere, it needs sorting and quickly before the summer season starts and we get mainlanders coming in who drive even worse over here than some islanders do. The islanders do mostly know the roads, mainlanders don’t.
A reason for the Island having no Police Traffic Unit is the lack of motorways. Common sense would tell you that high speed driving on a motorway has to be safer, than the same on our winding roads and lanes. Look how many cars end up going through hedges because of speed. Rowlands lane being a fine example. I’m sure those of my generation remember the likes of the late P.C. Dave Gurd. I believe back then we had at least three traffic motorcycle cops, to maintain order on our roads, with far far less traffic than we have today. The present situation can not be ignored any longer.
The standard of drivers on this island is out of control, and we have too many people making pathetic excuses for idiots that have no respect for life…
Something needs to happen to stop this ignorant, uneducated, attitude…if you have dashcam futidge use it to report these maniacs…
So right. As I walked down the road the other day there was this chap in a big 4×4 stopped at red lights. He kept edging forward to the point that when the lights did turn green he was blocking the pedestrian crossing and well past the light. And then there are the gang of kids on their 125cc bikes racing down monkton street with loud exhausts doing wheelies.
No amount of RPU officers will make a change on the Island.
it’s the attitude of island drivers which needs to change before we’ll see a difference.
The least experienced drivers in the UK with the biggest driving ego!
Never driven in the real world but they know it all.
Also if we have combined Fire Arms- RPU officers they’re out every day what have they been doing to address things?