Traffic police numbers across Great Britain have been cut by 12 per cent in five years, with some forces suffering 30 to 40 per cent reductions, according to data released today by road safety charity Brake. 

While traffic police in Scotland increased by 4 per cent, numbers were down by nearly one third in Wales, and 13 per cent in England. Brake are warning the cuts leave some parts of the country dangerously short on vital frontline roads policing, which could put the public at risk from dangerous, law-breaking drivers.

In Bedfordshire, road traffic police have been cut by 44 per cent, while in South Wales and Dyfed Powys, that figure stands at 40 per cent. Meanwhile, in West Mercia and Hampshire, reductions have been more than a third. 

In Kent, where there are far too many crowded roads already, the number of traffic police increased minutely by one per cent. While Wales and England both saw traffic police numbers fall because of new police commissioners deciding where money should be spent, Scotland saw an increase in its traffic police of nearly four per cent – vital for a country that loves its alcohol. 

Brake is concerned the resulting lack of policing officers on our roads will lead to forces struggling to enforce vital safety laws, such as on drink driving, speeding and mobile phone use, and could potentially undermine an important new drug driving law expected to come into force next year.

The road safety charity says that international evidence shows enforcement is a key part of keeping roads safe, preventing devastating crashes and casualties by providing a deterrent against risky driving and ensuring dangerous offenders are taken off the public road.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, said: “It is desperately worrying such large cuts continue to be made to traffic policing, just as progress is being made to improve the law on deadly drug driving. Roads police officers do a vital job enforcing important safety laws and protecting the public - their work is proven to save lives and prevent injuries and suffering. 

“Cutting traffic police is a false economy, because the crashes and casualties they help to prevent inflict such devastation and are a huge drain on public services. These cuts also undermine important progress being made by government to tackle drug driving - because as much as we need a new drug driving law and screening devices, we also need the officers out there to enforce it. 

“We urge the government to make roads policing a national policing priority, to make sure we have a strong deterrent against the risk-taking on roads that can easily cost lives.”

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “Road safety does not appear to be a high priority for new police commissioners, despite high public concern. What is needed urgently is joined-up government thinking and leadership so that the benefits to the NHS can be shared among those who work on the front line of road safety.”

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