Figures Reveal Yawning Between Speeders Caught By Cameras Compared To Police Officers

Figures obtained by the country’s leading traffic lawyer reveal the yawning gulf between motorists caught speeding by fixed cameras, and those caught by uniformed traffic officers.

The statistics – acquired by Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, under the Freedom of Information of Act from six forces – comes the day after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) called for even more average speed cameras to help reduce air pollution on the nation’s A roads.

In 2011, Merseyside Police caught a total of 48,675 drivers for speeding – 38,220 by camera and 10,455 by police officers. Last year, whilst a total of 59,359 motorists in were caught, just 4,754 via a uniformed police officer.

In 2011, South Yorkshire Police caught 2,751 speeders which had dropped to 702 last year.

The figures for Kent Police show that in 2011 51,517 drivers were caught by speed camera and 6,109 by traffic officers. Whilst the number caught for speeding by fixed camera had risen to 65,333 last year, the numbers caught by police officers had fallen to 1,771.

In 2014, West Midlands caught a total of 52,331 for speeding – 49,519 by camera and 2,812 by officers.

Last year, speed cameras in Gloucestershire detected 18,088 speeding offences whilst for police officers it was just 1,162.

Mr Freeman said: “For a long time I have openly criticised the increasing reliance of speed cameras to robotically police the nation’s roads and motorway networks.

“Whilst it’s abundantly clear that they are highly efficient at detecting drivers going over the speed limit, they are utterly blind to a whole multitude of other sins which are often far more serious than the speeding offences they are designed to detect.

“They are cash tills designed to fill dwindling coffers. They can’t detect if someone is drink or drug driving, dangerous driving, illegally using a mobile phone, carrying stolen goods or weapons, etc, etc, etc.”

Mr Freeman added: “Uniformed officers on the roads are also a huge deterrent and better equipped to enforce the law than any camera system. What these startling statistics show is that detection by police presence is being gradually phased out.”

*Those who responded to the request were Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, West Midlands, Merseyside and South Yorkshire.

Freedom of Information Data

Leicestershire Police

Merseyside Police

Kent Police

West Midlands

Gloucestershire Constabulary

South Yorkshire Police

About Nick Freeman

Nick Freeman is probably the best known solicitor practising in the country today.

He has been dubbed "Mr Loophole" by the press owing to his vast technical knowledge of motoring law matters and his ability to successfully challenge the prosecution over procedural irregularities.

Nick is widely known for his celebrity client list and high profile criminal defence cases.

Nick is the head of Freeman & Co. Solicitors and although based in Manchester, represents defendants in motoring and criminal cases all over the country.

After graduating from Chester Law School in 1979, Nick started his career as a prosecuting solicitor for Greater Manchester Police.

Nick soon became known for his technical legal abilities and robust court room style and he was soon recruited into private practice by the highly respected solicitors firm of Burton & Co. He was soon to be made a partner at the practice but in 1999 he decided to start his own firm following which Freeman & Co. was formed.

Owing to Nick's meticulous case preparation and technical legal skill he soon made Freeman & Co. one of the most respected and sought after criminal solicitors firms in the country.

Despite the celebrity client list and media attention, Nick and Freeman & Co. have built their practice on representing ordinary members of the public with the same tenacity as those more high profile cases that are reported in the press and on TV.

Outside of his professional practice Nick is a regular expert guest on TV and radio and is well regarded as an expert legal commentator. He is an ardent supporter of defendant anonymity in sex cases.

In recent times his credits have included Tonight With Trevor MacDonald, Close Up North West, Channel 4 News, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live to name but a few. He also appears regularly on Sky News, BBC News 24 and Legal Eagles on ITV's This Morning. Nick is a regular legal commentator for the Sunday Times.

A father of 2 children Nick is a keen golfer with a 2.9 handicap and enjoys vigorous exercise with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Contacting Nick Freeman

For professional matters and representation Nick can be contacted through Freeman & Co. on 0161 236 7007 or you can send him a confidential email by clicking here.

If you would like to contact Nick for a media appearance or legal comment please call David Simister on 0845 389 26 26.