Police chief calls for more speed cameras on Black Country roads

Talks are being held to make more cameras operational and to target key routes where speeding has become a problem.

Waheed Saleem, the deputy police and crime commissioner, said the West Midlands force is "working closely" with councils to encourage them to put more working speed cameras on main roads.

Average speed cameras returned to some busy roads in the Black Country last year but the majority of the region is not covered.

Some 'dummy' cameras that once flashed speeding drivers remain in place to act as a deterrent, but they were actually switched off in 2013.

Cameras have made a successful return in Birmingham and Coventry and Mr Saleem said he wants the same to happen in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell.

Funding to maintain and administer the cameras remains an issue, with both councils and the police reluctant to pay to install and run them.

The Black Country councils made a joint agreement last year to install average speed cameras on routes like the Birmingham New Road, while the police process and enforce the fines.

Mr Saleem said: "We are catching more speeding drivers and in doing so encouraging everyone to go slower. This is already seeing positive results with average speeds down on routes where safety cameras have been installed and fewer deaths across the region.

Priorities

"We are working closely with Black Country councils to get cameras up and running following the successes in Birmingham and Coventry. To be clear though, the police does not profit from these cameras, money from fines goes to central government and money raised from courses goes into maintaining the cameras."

Councils say they are open to the idea of more cameras, but Walsall Council deputy leader Adrian Andrew insisted they should not be used as cash cows. The police have said they do not profit from cameras.

Councillor Andrew said: “A key priority of Walsall Council is to improve road safety and the operation of average speed cameras plays just one part.

"We continue to ask the police and crime commissioner and the police to respond to our local priorities where residents and councillors believe there to be a speeding problem that could be reduced with the deployment of mobile speed enforcement. Walsall Council will not condone speed cameras being used as a means of fund raising but a means of keeping drivers, pedestrians and cyclists safe on our roads.”

Dudley Council deputy leader David Vickers said: "Dudley Council takes the issue of road safety very seriously. We have worked with the police and the Black country boroughs to provide average speed cameras on the A458 Lye and A4123 Birmingham New Road. We continue to work closely with police on all road safety matters.”