The UK Government should appoint 1,000 new roads police officers in order to improve road safety and help tackle wider crime, according to the AA.
The motoring organisation said that the Labour Party election manifesto had pledged to recruit thousands of new police officers to tackle neighbourhood crime, and said it believed 1,000 of these new recruits should form part of the road traffic section of forces across the country.
The AA said analysis of Home Office statistics had revealed that as of 31 March 2024, there were 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales, a drop of 1,022 officers from the highest point on 31 March 2016 (5,237).
The AA also said that a poll of drivers last month showed 57% thought drivers could get away with careless driving due to a lack of police on the roads.
AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens said: “Be it driving offences or wider crime, public opinion suggests that too many people are simply getting away it. It’s clear that the public want to see more bobbies on the beat, so the government’s ambition to increase the number of police officers is welcome.
“We believe there should be a wider approach to tackling crime and that more cops in cars could produce safer communities as well as safer roads. A clear and visible presence is a deterrent itself to ensure better standards of driving, as well as sending a warning signal to criminals that the chances of being caught are higher than before.
“Most traffic cops catch other crimes in the act, such as discovering stolen goods, through routine stops. Similarly a camera can spot the speeding driver, but it can’t stop them if they are under the influence of drink or drugs. Investment in traffic officers does more than improve road safety, it produces safer neighbourhoods too.”
