AA calls for 1,000 more 'cops in cars' to tackle crime half of drivers 'get away with'

The AA is urging the Home Secretary to recruit an additional 1,000 roads police officers to enhance road safety and combat broader crime on our highways and within our communities.

In their manifesto, Labour promised to hire thousands of new police officers to address local crime. The AA proposes that 1,000 of these fresh recruits should be assigned to the road traffic division of forces nationwide.

This appeal, a component of The AA's own Motoring Manifesto, comes in the wake of AA scrutiny of the most recent police workforce statistics published by the Home Office. As of 31 March 2024, there were 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales, a decrease of 1,022 officers from the peak on 31 March 2016 (5,237).

At first glance, hiring more traffic officers would boost the visibility of police on the roads. In a survey of 11,469 drivers conducted last month, over half (57%) felt that drivers could evade punishment for reckless driving due to a scarcity of police on the roads.

Similarly, over two fifths of drivers claimed offences such as using a handheld phone while driving (44%), drug driving (42%), not wearing a seatbelt (46%) and operating a dangerous vehicle (43%) were going unpunished due to a diminished police presence.

Road safety campaigners are celebrating as new AI cameras capable of catching drivers committing a variety of offences, including more than just speeding, have been deployed. But according to a recent survey, only a paltry 15% of motorists think that cameras can shoulder the load of roads policing by themselves, underlining the urgent need for more boots on the ground.

The report also sheds light on public sentiment regarding law enforcement beyond traffic violations. A staggering nine in ten people (91%) believe that increasing the number of traffic officers would make communities feel safer, whereas eight in ten are convinced that a rise in roads policing would drive down various crimes such as drug dealing, human trafficking, and vehicle theft.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, commented, "Be it driving offences or wider crime, public opinion suggests that too many people are simply getting away with it. It's clear that the public want to see more bobbies on the beat, so the government's ambition to increase the number of police officers is welcome.

"We believe there should be a wider approach to tackling crime and that more cops in cars could produce safer communities as well as safer roads. A clear and visible presence is a deterrent itself to ensure better standards of driving, as well as sending a warning signal to criminals that the chances of being caught are higher than before.

"Most traffic cops catch other crimes in the act, such as discovering stolen goods, through routine stops. Similarly a camera can spot the speeding driver, but it can't stop them if they are under the influence of drink or drugs. Investment in traffic officers does more than improve road safety, it produces safer neighbourhoods too."