We need 1,000 more traffic officers because too many drivers ‘simply get away with traffic violations’, says AA

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is being urged to hire 1,000 new traffic officers if she and the Labour Party are serious about improving road safety, tackling the car theft epidemic and tackling wider crime, the AA has said.

The car group Analysis of official police staffing statistics shows there were 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales at the end of March 2024.

That is 1,022 fewer than the highest point on March 31, 2016 (5,237), which represents a decline of 20 percent in less than ten years.

There is a general perception among the public that drivers are getting away with a number of different traffic violations ‘with impunity’. Only more police officers can stop this.

There was an over-reliance on cameras to monitor and enforce British drivers, with a larger police presence needed to support the new technology on the road.

Labour’s election manifesto promised to recruit thousands of new police officers to tackle crime in the community.

The AA today called on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to make good on that promise, saying at least 1,000 of the increased police staff should be dedicated to traffic officers to tackle the rising tide of traffic and vehicle-related crime.

The motoring association says its own research has shown that the public is fed up with people ‘just getting away’ with traffic violations.

The AA says there is a general public perception that drivers are ‘getting away with’ a number of different traffic offences – and that only more officers on the road can reduce this.

A survey of 11,469 drivers conducted last month found that more than half (57 percent) believed drivers could easily avoid a ticket for reckless driving because there were too few police on the road.

More than two-fifths of drivers said that violations such as holding a mobile phone while driving, driving under the influence of drugs, not wearing a seat belt and driving a dangerous vehicle went unpunished due to reduced police presence.

The demand for a large police force comes from the increasing use of AI cameras to detect all kinds of traffic violations, such as catching people holding their phones while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

Authorities are also installing the latest ‘ultra’ speed cameras, which can not only identify speeders in both directions, but also not blink when photographing passers-by. They can also detect other crimes, such as using phones and not wearing a seat belt.

The AA welcomed the arrival of this technology but said it should be complemented by a greater police presence on the roads.

Interestingly, there was a strong belief that more traffic officers could help combat and reduce crime off the road.

Nine in ten (91 percent) said more traffic police would make society safer, while eight in ten believed more police officers on the road could help reduce crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and the ongoing wave of car thefts, especially given the recent rise in keyless car crimes.

At the end of March 2024, there were 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales. That is some 1,022 fewer than the peak on 31 March 2016 (5,237), representing a 20% drop in less than a decade.

Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy, said: ‘Whether it’s traffic offences or crime in general, the public perception is that too many people are getting away with it.

‘It is clear that the population wants to see more police officers on the streets. That is why the government’s ambition to increase the number of police officers is welcome.

“We believe that crime needs to be tackled more broadly and that more officers in cars can make for safer communities and roads.

‘A clear and visible presence is in itself a deterrent and provides better driving conditions. It also warns criminals that the chance of being caught is greater than before.’

Mr Cousens added that a recruitment campaign for traffic officers would help tackle certain crimes that can only be identified by people, such as finding stolen goods through routine checks.

“A camera can detect a driver who is speeding, but it cannot stop him if he is under the influence of drink or drugs,” he said.

‘Investing in traffic officers not only improves road safety, it also creates safer neighborhoods.’

The Ministry of the Interior was asked for comment.