Community Speed Watch

Published: 23 September 2025

COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH INITIATIVE

Community Speed Watch (CSW) is a national initiative where proactive members of local communities are trained by the police to record details of speeding vehicles using handheld speed detection equipment.

The volunteers report drivers exceeding the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down.

Speed Watch monitoring sessions are undertaken at sites located within 20, 30 and 40mph areas only.

If the data proves a driver is ignoring repeated warnings police can prosecute them. The aim is to:

· reduce death and injury on the roads

· improve the quality of life for local communities

· reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit

· increase public awareness of inappropriate speed

What happens if a driver is caught speeding in the village?

Community Speed Watch does not result in prosecution itself. However, if a persistent speeding driver is identified through the scheme, police can use this evidence to take action against them if required.

Registered keepers of vehicles recorded exceeding the speed limit are contacted – initially with a letter – explaining the potential risks and consequences of their dangerous behaviour.

Repeat offenders may receive a visit from local police. Collated evidence of continual excessive speeding will lead to more focused enforcement and criminal prosecutions.

If there is a persistent general speeding issue where highway improvements are required (eg speed bumps, signage, etc), the relevant agency will be contacted.

Why does Whimple Parish Council want to set up a CSW Group?

Whimple Parish Council receives lots of reports from local people about the volume and speed of traffic in the village.

We are keen to have a CSW initiative to:

· Build an evidence base of the volume and speeds of traffic going through the village

· Be able to use this to lobby Devon County Council Highways to implement traffic calming measures in the village

· Have evidence to use as part of the planning process for potential future developments in the village

Parish Councillors will be volunteering but the council also needs the help of local people.

Role of the Group Co-ordinator

One team member must be willing to take on the role of the Group Co-ordinator, which involves:

· Having access to create the CSW sessions

· Requesting sites to carry out CSW sessions

· Requesting devices

· Making reports, booking results, analysing results

· Taking part in the CSW sessions

Prior to the online registration, the person wishing to be the group co-ordinator should first email the Community Speed Watch Team to advise the police of their name and contact details, and the area they wish to start a new team in.

After contact is made with the co-ordinator, the new CSW team name will be activated on the National Community Speed Watch website.

The group co-ordinator will be encouraged to register their information online and to ask the other volunteers to join their team.

What does becoming a Community Speed Watch volunteer involve?

Volunteers receive training, and neighbourhood policing team staff will support them.

Prior to use, each site has been individually assessed by trained police staff to ensure it meets our safety standards for that location.

Volunteers are highly visible to passing motorists to encourage drivers to be more speed aware when driving through the location.

Volunteers are asked to register themselves online and to complete training (by the Police which includes practical roadside training) before they can conduct CSW sessions.

How much time would I have to devote to being a volunteer?

The simple answer is as much or as little as you want to or are able to.

The sessions can be carried out as and when volunteers are available to get involved.

We are ideally looking for a minimum of 12 volunteers to make this manageable for all volunteers. 4 volunteers are needed per CSW session.

Interested?

Please contact Amy Tregellas, Parish Clerk to register your interest, via clerk@whimpleparishcouncil.gov.uk

Thank you

Whimple Parish Council