The first of two community speed enforcement vans has been launched by Suffolk Police to combat rural speeding.

It has been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Suffolk County Council with money generated from speed awareness courses.

A second van funded by Suffolk Police will be deployed later this month.

Mr Passmore said: “One thing that has come through loud and clear is that people want to see enforcement in our towns and villages, in areas where lower speed limits are in place, where they feel safety is a real issue.

“These small vans will be deployed in areas where parking the larger camera van is not practical, and specifically placed in areas where there is local concern.”

The Fiesta vans will focus on areas in Suffolk where communities have raised speeding concerns via complaints, parish councils, community speedwatch campaigns or from police Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

They are smaller than traditional safety camera vans and can therefore target more rural areas.

This van and its operator are being funded with money from the Driver Diversionary Fund, which comes from motorists who have taken part in speed awareness courses.

Most drivers caught speeding are offered a speed awareness course, and around £20 of this goes into road safety in the county, while the rest pays for the course.

Anyone in the community who would like to see the van deployed in their area can find out more information by emailing Mr Passmore’s office at spcc@suffolk.pnn.police.uk.

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