“Our roads are not being policed” – they are the words of a former Isle of Wight traffic cop who has joined calls for a dedicated Roads Policing Unit to be reinstated locally.
As previously reported by Island Echo, a campaign has been launched to see a dedicated Isle of Wight Roads Policing Unit (RPU) reinstated on the Island. The campaign, led by the Island’s MP, has gained support from the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, the Isle of Wight Coroner and some town and parish councils – and now Island Echo.
Bob Seely MP has invited views from Islanders ahead of a meeting with top brass from Hampshire Constabulary later this month.
Responding to that call, a respected retired officer with decades of experience in keeping the Island’s roads safe has aired their balanced views in a letter shared with Island Echo.
The officer, who wishes to remain unnamed, has said:
“I have noted with interest the calls from various high profile personalities on the Island calling for the reinstatement of the Island’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU). I was one of the Island’s RPU officers before my retirement and I am keen to see its reinstatement in view of the current spate of collisions being reported.
“I have read with interest the propaganda that Hampshire Police have released in an attempt to justify their decisions. Decisions which, when made about seven years ago, they tried to hide behind smokescreens, lies and empty reassurances. We, the then RPU unit, were effectively told by senior officers that the RPU was to be disbanded and a new hybrid unit set up. We were told they knew what they were doing and that their model would work. Sadly, those senior officers have also since retired. There is never any accountability of poor decisions made by senior officers.
“Whilst I fully understand the consequences of budget cuts what I find difficult to accept is the fact we on the Island are treated differently from the mainland. We still have roads and sadly we suffer a disproportionately higher number of killed and seriously injured collisions on those under policed roads. The fact we don’t have a motorway is immaterial and a red herring set out by the Constabulary to justify the fact that the experimental Armed Response/RPU unit has failed.
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Not all deaths are treated the same
“When the RPU was disbanded, the Criminal Investigation Department was not. Unfortunately, both in society and in policing circles, a murder is seen as a high priority and more important than a road death. Tragically, if a knife is plunged into a person or they are killed as a result of a vehicle on our roads, the outcome is sadly the same.
“Road deaths being classed as accidents, although sad, don’t merit the same effort or financial support to investigate. The term ‘Road Traffic Accident’ was changed to a ‘Road Traffic Collision’ to support the fact that an ‘accident’ is an occurrence that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. Nobody sets out to hurt another when driving, however, the fact a driver may be speeding, using a mobile phone or intoxicated or a combination thereof creates a situation whereby anything that happens thereafter cannot be described as an accident. Budgets allocated to murder squads have always hugely exceeded those of a road death investigation. Both are, until proved otherwise, unlawful killings and should merit the same funding and considerations. After all, ALL victims and their families, murdered or those killed on the roads deserve the truth.
We have never had a motorway – nor does Dorset
“We’ve never had a motorway on the Island, even when they deemed it necessary to have a RPU on the Island previously. Dorset doesn’t have any motorways either, yet they have a dedicated Roads Policing Unit and separate Armed Response Vehicles.
“Many many years ago the Island had what was called a ‘Mobile Patrol’- that was an area car tasked with both crime and traffic work. It was subsequently deemed not to meet requirements and consequently a traffic section was set up. It would appear that the wheel needs to be reinvented!
“I fully understand some peoples reticence about having an RPU. Roads Policing not being a popular subject. I’ve heard all of the criticisms, ‘revenue making’, ‘stealth tax for the government’, ‘can’t you catch real criminals.’ Sadly, nobody likes having their driving criticised or being caught speeding or using a mobile phone and being fined for it! However, what is important to understand is that the highways and cars do pose a significant danger to us all and our loved ones.
Little or no enforcement
“I live on the Island, my friends and family use the roads. Sadly, people are too frequently seriously injured and killed on our roads. A deterrent is needed to remind us sometimes of the hazards on our roads.
“People often criticise the ‘state’ of the roads. It’s worth remembering that at present there is little or no enforcement or education as to how to drive safely within the parameter’s of weather, road surface and road conditions set out before a driver.
“Consider the fact that we all use the roads and we may on occasion exceed the speed limit. The fact you get caught should be seen as a timely reminder that we should always be vigilant as a vehicle is potentially a very dangerous object capable of reeking havoc and destroying lives.
“I know of many families who have lost loved ones on the roads and their lives will never be the same. The ripple effect that a serious collision causes is palpable.
“Essentially, at present our roads are not being policed, hence the increase in collisions reported almost daily.
Old vs new
“I know the current officers on the so-called enhanced, combined ARV/RPU. Good capable officers but through no fault of their own, they are not committed to roads policing. I would argue that the experiment has not worked due to the fact that they did not receive the same training as mainland RPU officers receive. That they are essentially ARV officers and are more dedicated to their gun work than RPU.
“Simply put they do not have the same enthusiasm for RPU work as the previous dedicated RPU officers did.
“Consider going back about seven years ago. There was always RPU vehicles showing a visible presence of the roads and at the roadside conducting vehicle stops. When and how much was the last time the Island’s ARV/RPU conducted any enforcement? Not in conjunction with the mainland RPU, purely Island… I’ll be bold enough to suggest limited data exists to prove how undynamic in enforcing traffic law they have been.
“We used to work very closely with the Fire and Ambulance service delivering the highly effective schools educations presentations, ‘Head On’ and ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive.’ Sadly those initiatives have stopped. Many of our school leavers over a number of years will not have had the opportunity to experience those presentations, speak to members of the emergency services and reflect on their future driving behaviour.
It’s not right or fair
“I am very keen for the powers that be in Hampshire Constabulary to reconsider and reflect in a transparent and honest way. To look at data both pre ARV/RPU and current collision data and listen to the many voices from the Island asking to be treated the same as the mainland.
“I love the island and I wish for my family, my friends and all residents to be treated equally, we all pay the same taxes yet we are treated differently from the mainland, with a second rate service by the police, that’s not right or fair!”
Well done to this ex-police officer. This is the sort of person who needs to push for the island. Keep it up.
You summed up the situation with the words “Our roads are not being policed”
Totally agree with this something needs doing both a motorcyclist and HGV driver road discipline is appalling unfortunately the driving test is not good you are taught to pass your test not how to drive with other road users conditions are very important especially when salt grit is added to the roads making them slippery but my main concern is Car drivers ignoring road closures no entry one way signs to save their journey time that must be dealt with protection of road working personnel, speed is reflected by the condition of the road and weather not just the speed limit and the roads need constant replacement not patched.
I quite agree with the letter. The fact the other weekend so many tickets were issued in 48 hours prove something. The driving of some island drivers need to be curtailed. What difference does it make if you arrive home 5 minutes later. At least attired home.
Whatever is done nothing will stop the boy racers ,chancers or whoever decides to be a pric.. on the roads
Well said! We deserve better on the Island. As an ex traffic cop myself I know just how detailed and complex traffic law is and it is not something that can just be an add-on to other duties. Only a very small percentage of traffic law relates to motorways, the rest relates to the type of roads we have here on the Island so they need policing. Drivers can be seen everyday driving badly, having collisions, rolling their cars into fields and committing offences but how often do you see anyone getting stopped? There are more deaths on the road than there are deaths in the community but we still have a CID on the Island.
Excellent post from an ex Police officer who KNOWS. You sum up the need for a dedicated RPU perfectly. Thank you. Perhaps years ago when the island was quieter and cars and idiots didn’t drive so dangerously fast while drugged up or drunk, maybe it was ok then to disband the RPU. In the years I have lived on the island , I can see a change in the way motorists drive their cars.
Speeding has increased for sure, the younger generation in their lowered, overly loud exhausts are ever increasing. They drive the roads with no regard for their safety or innocent others. Then there are the general bad drivers, who just can’t drive. RPU, come back.
Don’t you also think that older people should have a medical every four or five years this to be carried out independently of your own doctor. I see some people who can barely walk yet they get into a car and drive there reactions must be zilt . The elderly can cause a lot of accidents but not necessarily be involved. And by the way I am in my mid seventies
Dependant on when you took test .. I’m mid 60s but passed the year that theory test and hazard perception were introduced and thorough driving for an hour .. not the three questions and your through and passed like years ago
Have you any evidence or stats that elderly drivers cause a lot of accidents, M? Thought not. The recorded facts are that drivers under 30 are involved in and cause four times more accidents than elderly people. It might be annoying to be stuck behind an old fart on the middle road, but it’s not then who cause the accidents…It’s the idiots who risk their and other people’s lives to overtake in a dangerous situation to save a few moments. We all see inconsiderate and even breathtakingly stupid and dangerous examples ever day, and it ain’t we oldies at the wheel. It’s speed and impatience and thoughtlessness and a soaring sense of self-importance that kills and seriously injures people on roads, and it happens more on our roads than the mainland. As with crazy house prices, it’s easy and fashionable to blame old people, but it simply isn’t true.
So what world do you live in then ?
I entirely agree with the ex RPU cop!
I would add two other points:-
# we are repeatedly told that motorway driving is much more safe than driving on urban and countryside roads, and yet, entirely contrary to all logic, IW residents are told that we can’t have a RPU because the island doesn’t have any motorways!
# Just to add to all our grief, some clowns in the Council have inflicted these wretched electric scooters on us! Their use is totally unpoliced and that’s why they are largely used by morons on footways and/or going the wrong way on one/way streets.
It was bob’s mates that got rid of them in the first place. He should be apologising not making out he is some kind of hero pushing for their return.
A dedicated RPU is definitely needed on the Island, just look at the number of thumbs up from people that agree with the comments. If you drive by the rules of the road then you have nothing to worry about with a dedicated RPU being on the roads. We have ‘boy racers’, the elderly community who do not realise how dangerous their driving has become, those who do not tax or insure their vehicles or indeed have a licence and a significant number of drink drivers. Whatever your political persuasions, write to Bob Seely to support this, it DOES matter.
When I wrote to Donna Jones, the response I got from their office was “all of Hampshire have to deal with road noise and accidents, the Isle of Wight is no different”. More than useless, out of touch. They obviously don’t care about the fatalities. My latest email remains unanswered. How many more need to lose their lives and have theirs blighted by criminal road users? Genuine question. Ten more dead? 15 more? I want to know what price the commissioner puts on island lives. Because it’s currently £0.
Totally agree with him, i have over a number of years driven throughout the UK and many other countries as well and it is a fact that the standard of driving on the Island is appalling, ignoring traffic lights and one way restrictions , speeding and a total lack of observing the highway code or showing consideration to other road users and it is not the elderly who have the most accidents but then some prefer to blame others whilst not accepting their own faults.
I live innnorth road shanklin yesterday morning there was a white fiesta st with a personal plate driving up and down the road at well over double the speed limit a lot of elderly people live on this road and use the crossing up by Clarendon road some one is going to get killed , and night time it’s worse with there noisy exhausts racing down to seafront then up Queens road back down north road something needs to be done
If only the government could of foreseen the future of how popular the motor car has actually gotten, all those years ago 1920’s onwards or earlier? What I mean is when you look at the legal age here in the UK to drive fully eighteen years or over. It is now too late to do anything about the legal age of driving, but so glad that something is going to get done for policing our roads. I always wonder how many gears cars have got, when hearing them go up my road, knowing that they have to stop at the junction sooner or later, but the gear changes keep going up.