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Boss accused over 'unjustified' speed cameras resigns...
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| A speed camera boss resigned
yesterday following a police investigation into the misuse of the
controversial devices. Barry Parnell, who managed the speed camera
scheme in Norfolk, quit after seeing the highly-critical findings. |
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| They are understood to
confirm an interim report which found there was insufficient data to
justify half the county's 18 fixed cameras and criticised the
interpretation of data used to justify another six. |
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| One notorious camera in
Grapes Hill, Norwich, was removed in April, the month after the interim
report. The final report - due in September - will result in many
more of the county's camera sites, including some of the 72 targeted by
four mobile units, being scrapped because they too fail to meet the rules. |
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| The inquiry's criticisms
brought calls for a similar investigation nationwide. The cameras
run by the Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership, managed by Mr. Parnell,
caught nearly 40,000 motorists last year, netting an estimated
£2.4million in fines. |
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| The investigation into the
partnership - of which the police are themselves a key member - was
ordered by Norfolk's Chief Constable Andy Hayman following concern that
the cameras failed to comply with the rules. Mr Hayman said last
night that the investigation had revealed 'a number of sites found
wanting'. |
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| 'This was all sparked by
public concern about one camera site which has now been decommissioned',
he added. 'We support speed cameras - but they must be in places
where there is a genuine history of accidents'. Norfolk Police
Authority chairman Jim Wilson said the force's reputation was being
'tarnished' by the antics of the partnerships. |
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| He added: 'There is an
erosion of pubic confidence in the police from otherwise law-abiding
citizens in the community. Some 42 partnerships have been set up by
the Government to run 6,000 cameras in England and Wales, producing up to
three million speeding tickets this year. |
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| They have been criticised as
being unaccountable and a money-making 'law unto themselves'. In
May, incredulity greeted a Government review which concluded that all
6,000 speed cameras were positioned correctly to save lives rather than
raise money. |
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| A month later Ministers were
already backtracking when official figures showed casualty rates actually
rising at one in seven speed camera sites. Tory transport spokesman
Damien Green said yesterday: 'The Government's claim that all speed
cameras are correctly sited becomes more incredible by the day'. |
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| 'We want the National Audit
Office to mount an independent investigation. This latest episode
looks like the tip of an iceberg. People have every reason to
suspect that cameras are there to raise revenue, rather than save
lives'. Mark McArthur-Christie, of the Association of British
Drivers, said: 'We believe this resignation will be the first of many'. |
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| 'This case opens the
floodgates'. 'These partnerships are unaccountable
revenue-raisers. Even the police are now concerned at the damage
speed cameras are doing to their reputation'. Mr Parnell, who is in
his 50s, insisted he was leaving for reasons 'of a personal nature'
unrelated to the police report. |
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