Police erode public support with latest “money-making” attack on motorists

Could someone enlighten me as to the crime rate in Lancashire?

I’m assuming it’s low as the local police force, it has emerged, appears to have time on their hands.

They have been happily snapping motorists guilty of flashing their lights at other drivers to warn them to slow down, and slapping them with £30 fines.

In case you were thinking you had misread that, or that I was pulling your leg, you haven’t and I am not.

The British police has launched another war against the motorist, this time targeting those who flash their headlights to warn others of speed cameras.

Of course the police and local authorities have picked on motorists for years. 

We are easy victims to terrorise after inadvertently creeping into a box junction to allow an ambulance through, or slipping over the 30mph limit.

Remember that woman pursued by a police helicopter for eating an apple at the wheel of the car.

Even the yobs who put a brick trough my windscreen one morning did not warrant such devoted attention. I was given a crime number and told to get lost.

Catching motorists can net a tidy sum for our boys in blue, and with not that much effort.

It doesn’t surprise me they have come up with this latest money spinner.

Lancashire Police has so far handed out 20 tickets for “misuse of headlights” according to an article in the world's greatest  today.

Critics immediately slammed it as a “money-making exercise that would erode public support for the police”. I agree.

The AA said imposing the fines created a “legal and moral minefield”. 

Drivers may be too scared to warn others of dangerous faults on their vehicles, it said.

The police insisted  warning other drivers of a speed trap was “a dangerous practice”’. 

Really? As dangerous as walking through the mob of hoodies that hang around the off licence at the end of my road spitting, swearing and harassing people to buy booze?

Must be, because I never see the police there handing out fines.

Lancashire traffic officer PC Antony Gray said offenders are “putting lives at risk” with their speed camera-warning flashes.

“Speeding motorists need to be spoken to so they will seriously consider their irresponsible driving,” he said.

Really PC Gray? I thought you were just after their money, and an excuse to make your policing figures look better.

According to the Lancashire Telegraph, recent stats show thefts, robbery and sex offences are all on the rise in the region.

The latest one-year period of figures shows 9,428 crimes were reported to police.

Theft offences increased by 3.6 per cent, robbery by 4.4 per cent and sexual offences by 5.6 per cent.

When the article was printed in January, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke put the public’s mind at rest by saying the force was set to make cuts of £42million.

“Despite the challenges we face we are determined to provide the best quality of service possible,” he added.

Chief Constable Cooke, might I suggest you don’t try to make up the deficit by going after the obvious target – motorists.

Might I also suggest your officers’ time might be better spent catching burglars, robbers and rapists, who seem to be making the most them being out catching drivers who flash their lights.