Calls for increased road policing are gathering support as concerns build over the delayed publication of latest road casualty figures.

The number of specialised roads policing officers fell from 7,104 in 2005 to 4,356 in 2014.

Although the figures are normally published in June, the Government has delayed them until September, with Viscount Simon having given a House of Lords speech on 27 June criticising the delay and highlighting that no reason has been given for it.

With provisional figures published in February showing a rise in total road deaths in Great Britain in each of the past three years, Viscount Simon – vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety and president of GEM – said the number of specialised roads policing officers fell from 7,104 in 2005 to 4,356 in 2014 and that he has been led to believe that the numbers have fallen even further.

He added: “At present there is a lack of investment and recognition of the role that roads policing plays in protecting our communities from harm.
“Should the benefits of roads policing be better understood, there is a real opportunity to strengthen this area, which could have a positive impact on road safety and safer communities if supported at government level.”

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “GEM believes the unwillingness of government to support roads policing is a key reason why road casualty numbers are not reducing. We urge the Government to look again at this neglected area and finally to acknowledge the vital role played by roads policing in making our roads and communities safer.”

Other areas highlighted in Viscount Simon’s speech included Government delays on type approval of traffic safety technology, including evidential roadside breath testing instruments and multi-function cameras, and a backing for calls for a road collision investigation unit, which he said would complement, not replace, the work of the police.

Viscount Simon added: “At the moment roads policing operations tend to be swept under the carpet whenever possible and it is not generally acknowledged that many more people die on our roads than are murdered.”