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Road Safety Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 68:"Page 22, leave out lines 25 to 29 and insert—" ““(a)   it is being used for operational fire and rescue authority purposes or for or in connection with the exercise of any operational function of a relevant authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, for operational ambulance purposes or for operational police or operational Serious Organised Crime Agency purposes,”” The noble Earl said: I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 69 to 73 and 81. The Committee will be aware of public and media concern regarding speeding and fatal accidents involving police vehicles. For instance, last Monday the Daily Express pointed out that:"““Home Office figures showed that the number of people killed   annually in accidents involving police patrol cars had risen 60 per cent to 31””." That is approaching one per cent of all fatalities. I am grateful for the Minister’s recent letter regarding one particular incident. The Committee would be wise to treat that matter as sub judice for the time being. I do not believe in regulation unless it is absolutely necessary. However, I suspect that the Committee will be extremely disappointed that a few police officers are severely damaging the police’s reputation. I urge the Minister to draw to the attention of the Association of Chief Police Officers and chief constables themselves the pretty tough amendments that the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, and I have tabled. If they do not get their act together, Parliament will give them some pretty tough regulation. I beg to move.