Police condemned for plan to raise cash through M1 speed camera blitz

Mr Martins said the county’s force was “stretched to the limit” with 169 officers per 100,000 population against a national average of 232 and 388 in London.

“It’s important to note that revenue generated from speed offences doesn’t go to police forces, it goes to a central fund”.

Olly Martins, PCC for Bedfordshire, said he could raise up to £1 million if he permanently switched on speed cameras that are usually only active when temporary speed restrictions are in place.

Chief engineer David Bizley said: “I t appears that the Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner harbours this view too, or at least he is using this as an opportunity to make a very serious point about resourcing”.

In response, he is thinking of using his powers to permanently turn on the cameras between junctions 10 (the turn-off for Luton Airport) and 13 (Milton Keynes South and Bedford), which is one of the busiest stretches of the motorway.

I’m running out of levers to pull.

Mr Martins added: “That’s why I am prepared to take desperate measures to avoid reducing our already anaemic police numbers”.

“Yet we have the 4th highest level of gun crime per head, 5th highest level of burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, 7th highest level of knife crime, together with a high terror threat and organised crime problem”.

Motoring organisations condemned the plans, saying they could mean that a motorist doing 71mph in a 70 zone could be fined £100 with no discretion.

“In addition to the speed cameras option – I am also prepared to examine selling sponsorship of our police uniforms and vehicles”.

Speaking to The Telegraph Hugh Bladon, co-founder of the Association of British Drivers, said the plan “beggared belief” and would lead to revolt on the roads. “I’m lost for words”, he said.

“We’ve been telling them about the predicament that Bedfordshire police is in for years now and the outcome is that we get a funding formula that says “sorry, Bedfordshire, you are going to get exactly the same level of funding you have always got”.

“It is completely contrary to to anything to do with road safety and utterly obnoxious”.

“The normally careful and competent actions of a reasonable individual should be considered legal”.