Hey Guys

Thank you for having me on your forum,

Been very incredibly stupid this evening on the way home from worOn my way home this evening from work I decided to go through the country roads.

I was going though a smallish village, and just before exiting the village there were 3 guys in high viz with a speed gun pointing at me (not Police).

Hands up far cop I was going over the speed limit as the guy holding the gun had a shocked look on his face.

The road was a 30, and to be honest I just wasn't thinking. Saw the national speed up ahead and saw the guys too late (again no excuse)

I could have been doing between 55-60 I honestly don't know.

My fear is now what is likely to happen?

Given that I was driving in excess of the limit, and probably over 50.

Given the twists in the road there is no way I was over 60 (not that it makes it ok).

What are the chances of them having a PCSO with them?

We are talking a very small village here.

All I could see was high vis jackets, no uniformed officers.

I even drove back a little while later (not speeding this time) and there was 3 people in high vis, no officer as I could see.

Absolutely gutted and panicking, so if someone can please help me out it would be much appreciated.

All in all a bit of a bad day., and a foolish error

If it was a Community Speed Watch campaign then you will get a letter from the Police telling you not to do it again, that's all. I know this because I take part in these campaigns for my own Parish Council.

Thank you, for what it is worth I do support it.

I hold my hands up, totally in the wrong

Even the fact I was doing between 50-60 in a 30?

Just a warning?

Yes,just a letter from the Police.

Did you see a lot of yellow signs saying there was Community Speed Watch in force? If so then that's who were operating the camera.

Hi John

There was one sign with the community speed watch, and they were in high viz clothing.

A second opinion?

**Link removed as it does not work**

the police log all of these events on a local database and if you get caught out several times expect a visit to warn you about your driving behaviour

I'm not condoning speeding but in my opinion these Community Speed Watch schemes are causing more problems than they solve.

Give some people one iota of responsibility and they will abuse it to the extreme.

I have seen videos on Youtube of retired types virtually jumping in front of speeding vehicles as they wrongly believe they have some super powers due to the Hi Viz vest and radar gun they have been given.

It won't be long before a fatality occurs. Policing the public is a job for - well, the Police and no one else.

they also tend to use the things incorrectly if a local group I have seen are anything to go by.

Surprised they ahvent been arrested for causing alarm or distress with their fake guns

Surprised they ahvent been arrested for causing alarm or distress with their fake guns

If not speeding, why would someone be alarmed or distressed?.

If speeding, would a 'reasonable person' be alarmed or distressed by the prospect they might be caught speeding? Probably not, as it is the risk that accompanies speeding.

So, what grounds would they be arrested on? It isn't "if you cause fear, alarm, or distress to ANYONE", but the offence is if in those circumstances a REASONABLE person would be caused fear, alarm, or distress.

read the firearms act and the crime and disorder act, nothing to do with motoring offences. Possession of an imitation firearm ina public place. The argument that they are on community watch isnt considered by wording of the law but like all if these things, the law is contorted so the local chief of police may choose to avoid applying it to their own schemes.

Another example was Kent police handing over the details of all firearm certificate holdetrs to a comany called SmarPiers Morganer. The idea of this was that the gun owner bought this product and maked their guns with it and fif they were subsequently used in a crime the police could idnetify the source of the gun. Well, that is a massive breach of the DPA but wil the chief constable get done for that? i'm sure that SmarPiers Morganer makes a nice donation to an ACPO approved charity and there is no financial benefit for the police but what idiot thought it would be a good idea to give out the names and addresses of every gun owner in the county to a bunch of unknowns?

Undoubtedly " not in the public interest" to chase up the instigators of either of these two crap ideas that break the law.

Thats a far stretch ericsbrother. A very far stretch. No court etc in their right mind would believe that someone thought it was an actual gun.

A very far stretch. No court etc in their right mind would believe that someone thought it was an actual gun.

You assume Courts are so infallible, but what about trained, specialist firearms police officers?

They shot and killed Harrry Stanley because they couldn't tell the difference between a gun or a table leg wrapped in a plastic bag.

Things happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Harry_Stanley

They have cover, representation, an independant investigator etc etc. Not comparable.