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Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by police authority the number of police officers that will be displaced as a result of the provisions of the Traffic Management Bill, and the proposed timescale for such displacement. [145542] Mr. Jamieson: Once implemented, the provisions within the Traffic Management Bill will free up police time from some traffic management duties. While the police will still patrol the network, they will be able to spend more time and resources dealing with vehicle, road and other crime including detection and enforcement against bad driving, vehicle theft and licensing offences. The plans for Highways Agency Traffic Officers will free up the equivalent of more than 500 police officers, as they are phased in over a period of three years. The information is not broken down by police authority. The effect of civil enforcement of further traffic offences by local authorities will depend on the take up of the new powers and the level of current enforcement activity in respect of those offences by the police. The manner in which any resources released are re-deployed will be a matter for the police.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

145542; 416 c356-7W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Enforcement Local government Police Powers Road traffic control Road traffic offences Police patrolling Traffic officers

Legislation

Traffic Management Bill 2003/04

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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