Communities in Northamptonshire will be able to do more to tackle speeding on the roads in their neighbourhood thanks to a new type of speed detection device that has been trialled in the county.
The Community Speedwatch volunteers in the village of Staverton have been using a speed detection device that is quicker and easier to set up and run. The device is less expensive than those currently in use in the county and has proved to be just as effective.
The new detection device will give Speedwatch volunteers the flexibility to set up and work to deter speeding drivers whenever they choose in the months that they work. And it means that active schemes can be given a speed detection device of their own, rather than having one for a month before it is passed on.
The trial was funded by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone – who will also fund the roll out of new devices to Speedwatch schemes next year. The project is managed by Northamptonshire Police Safer Roads Team.
There are currently 43 Community Speedwatch schemes in Northamptonshire. From 2026, volunteers will be able to carry out operations all year round, monitoring areas where speeding is a local cause of concern.
Speedwatch volunteers are trained to use the detection devices to record the details of speeding vehicles. These are passed to Northamptonshire Police, who can issue a warning letter to the drivers.
The new detection devices will start to be rolled out to existing and new schemes from March, when Police will also be working to increase the number of schemes and review the number of months they can work each year.
Danielle said: “Speedwatch volunteers give up their time to reassure their community, educate drivers and create a safer place. I really appreciate citizens taking responsibility for their own environment and I’m pleased that we can empower them to play an active role. This scheme will be relaunched with innovative technology that will hopefully increase its reach across Northamptonshire.”
Danielle Stone and Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet visited Staverton to see the speed detection device in use by the local volunteers.
Commissioner Danielle Stone, Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, Safer Roads Team Strategic Manager Matt O’Connell and members of the Staverton Community Speed Watch.
Tim Moriarty, Vice-Chair of Staverton Parish Council, said his Speedwatch group had welcomed taking part in the successful trial and were looking forward to the changes in the county’s scheme that will be introduced next year.
This initiative was highlighted at a road safety summit, called by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone to bring together policy makers from the local authorities and emergency services to share ideas that will reduce the number of casualties on the county’s roads.
Danielle said that road safety is a key priority in most of the communities she visits and was the main area of concern raised at the livestreamed question time event she held with the Chief Constable.
The county’s multi-agency road safety strategy is being renewed next year and both Danielle and Ivan said they will challenge themselves and other agencies to go further and faster to achieve the vision of safer roads.
Danielle said: “Road safety is an urgent priority – it’s a profound issue of lives lost, and lives torn apart. I am looking forward to seeing innovative solutions being considered when the new strategy is worked up next year.”
Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said: “The county’s current road safety strategy is expiring, and this is an opportunity to do something bold that we cannot waste. I want us to challenge ourselves, look at what we can do differently and be ambitious.
“We need to significantly reduce road deaths and injuries on Northamptonshire’s roads, there are far too many, and each one causes immense trauma and devastation to the people left behind.”
Members of the Staverton Community Speedwatch demonstrating the new equipment.
