Citizen Cops changing the way we police our roads
A dangerous driver – with a string of previous motoring offences - will soon be off our roads thanks to a Citizen Cop, in what was a unique, landmark conviction. An in-car camera system was used as evidence to help secure the conviction of 47 year old Adrian Maynard - and all possible without a police officer in sight, proving the public really can make a difference in helping keep our roads safer
Maynard, a truck driver from Northampton, already had three points for speeding on his licence when he was caught on camera in May 2012.* He was found guilty of dangerous driving in March this year, by Magistrates in Northampton
He appealed his punishment (a year-long ban from driving, 40 hours community service and the instruction for him to re-sit his driving test before getting behind the wheel again) and was allowed to continue driving pending a date for the appeal. In doing so, the system allowed a dangerous driver to continue to put other road users at risk
In the five months between the conviction and the appeal hearing yesterday, Maynard then racked up a further 9 points for additional driving offences – taking him up to the 12 point disqualification limit. Despite the success of his appeal against the dangerous driving conviction, Maynard instead pleaded guilty to careless driving, which could see Maynard’s driving licence amass as many as 21 points, meaning Maynard will face an automatic ban regardless.
PoliceWitness.com – the company behind the in-car camera and police reporting system – were present at the appeal. Chairman, Matt Stockdale, said: “We are delighted to have made a significant contribution in helping to remove a dangerous driver from our roads, despite the dubious and even incompetent actions of the CPS.
“For a member of the public to bring a successful prosecution of this kind is absolutely huge. There are fewer and fewer police officers on our streets but this just goes to show you, or I, can make a difference in holding dangerous drivers to account.
“This highlights the fact that we don’t need new legislation and laws but that the existing laws can be community-enforced using services such as PoliceWitness, just as the Home Secretary, Theresa May envisaged.
“It’s not about being vigilantes; motorists recording their journeys with a discreet in-car video camera not only gives a considerable amount of personal protection for them and their family, it has the added advantage of being able to report those who flout the law – thereby keeping our roads safer”.
For further information, log on to www.policewitness.com.
ENDS
*Video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCDGd3-NE-g&feature=youtu.be
Matt Stockdale, Chairman of PoliceWitness.com is available for comment / interview. Please call 01908 44 00 77 or email: stockdalem@policewitness.com
About PoliceWitness:
PoliceWitness.com provides “dash-cams” that enable motorists to record incidents on the road and involving their vehicle. Footage can be uploaded to the PoliceWitness website who will then forward it on to the relevant Police authority or your insurer, depending on the incident.
PoliceWitness.com has extensive knowledge of both frontline and strategic policing, and the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service. Through its contacts with the police, PoliceWitness.com facilitates the consideration of ‘prosecution quality’ video evidence supplied directly from the public, reporting road related incidents in a format the police and CPS recognise and can act upon. Reports are submitted directly to a specifically assigned officer, thus by-passing the control centre who are then free to process more urgent requests for assistance.
This proactive approach to true ‘public’ policing offers a standardised, commercial methodology across all forces, saving our police forces huge amounts of resource and planning. Whilst providing this service, PoliceWitness.com is able to identify countrywide public perceptions, and more importantly expectations, with regard to road related offences and the service provided by the authorities.
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