'Hide speed cameras inside catseyes'

icWales
Oct. 10, 2005

PLACING speed cameras in catseyes, under proposals made by a Welsh police chief, would herald a Big Brother-type police state, it was claimed last night.

In an interview, Mr Brunstrom, pictured right, suggested hiding cameras in catseyes and even building a cell block for drivers over one of Britain's busiest road tunnels.

He condemned anyone for "driving a ton of metal down the motorway and risking lives" in what is becoming known in other parts of the UK as the pedestrians' republic of North Wales.

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And he revealed that, without publicity, police have acquired instant access to everyone's insurance details, courtesy of the Association of British Insurers, so a camera reading the number plates of a line of cars can signal to police which driver is without cover.

Police computers, enthused Brunstrom, will eventually be able to make 100 million checks a day - an average of three checks a day per car.

Mr Brunstrom added, "It is like shooting fish in a barrel! It is fantastic! And Britain is leading the world.

"Traffic policing used to be, 'Have you enough water for your washers, ma'am?'

"Now we realise criminals are vulnerable on the road; if someone is about to rob a bank, they're unlikely to tax or insure their car."

Brunstrom's officers once doled out 4,200 tickets in a month; they get bonus points for their efforts. He said, "I'm not anti-motorist, I am anti-death."

Mr Brunstrom, a leading figure in the Association of Chief Police Officers, believes government approval for the force's Safety Camera Scheme is the most exciting development for his force.

"This will save lots and lots of lives on our roads and I played a big part in making it happen." he claimed.

But while road fatalities across Britain fell 8% last year, in his land of the speed camera, they shot up from 49 deaths to 58.

"It is a statistical blip," he said. "A lot of motorcyclists died that summer due to the good weather."

But a spokesman for the Department of Transport, said the catseyes plan was a non-starter.

He said, "This is one man's opinion and it is not government policy.

"Speed cameras have to be clearly visible, bright yellow and signposted, putting them in catseyes is not going to happen."

Brynle Williams, Conservative North Wales Assembly Member, said, "Richard seems totally obsessed with speeding, and speed cameras do a lot of good, but has the catseyes idea been costed? It sounds like a joke.

"He should get his officers out from behind a desk. Crime rates are increasing in North Wales and drugs are becoming more preva-lent in secluded, rural villages.

"Only nine out of 11 speed cameras are working in North Wales and they are not being placed where they are needed.

"Motorcylists from Merseyside and Birmingham use the A451 as a racetrack and there have been several fatalities."

Mick Bates, Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrat AM, from Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, said he could not believe his ears when he was told about the plan.

He said, "You are joking. Anyone who can think of such an appalling idea really should see what real life is like.

"New technology has its place but this would be Big Brother police state here we come.

"I dread driving through North Wales and I was pulled over last time I was there.

"It seems they have extra special ways of punishing the motorist up there."

Catseyes tale

A YORKSHIREMAN called Percy Shaw devised the modern catseye stud in 1934. They were self- cleaning as the reflectors were polished as they were depressed by a vehicle running over them.

The invention has been used in roads all over the world.

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Only recently has a "challenger" flashed on to the scene.

The "intelligent catseye" picks up the light from oncoming vehicles which then triggers a timed light output to show red.