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Safety Cameras

Answer

A successful prosecution for speeding is not possible if the driver at the time of the offence is not identified.Data on proceedings and findings of guilt for speed limit offences detected by camera are given in the following table, from 1997-2004 (latest available). Data from 1992-96 are not available.2005 data will be available early in 2007.

Estimated¹ number of proceedings² at magistrates’ courts and findings of guilt for speed limit offences³ detected by camera4, England and Wales, 1997 to 2004
Number of offences
	Total proceedings²	Findings of guilt
1997	48,100	43,800
1998	65,100	59,100
1999	75,800	68,300
2000	109,200	96,700
2001	137,100	121,800
2002	100,100	86,500
2003	127,400	106,100
2004	127,100	102,000
¹ Estimated from combining data from OCJR’s Court Proceedings Database and separate data from the police.
² Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
³ Offences under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
4 Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
Notes:
1. Data from 1992-96 are not available.
2. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete.
3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

96139; 451 c1697-8W;451 c1701W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Cameras Speed limits

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk