Met Police No Longer Have Power to Enforce Traffic Offences

Police officers in London have been told they no longer have powers to enforce the law when drivers flout basic rules of the road.

Motorists caught making “minor errors of judgment” should face no more than words of advice, new Metropolitan Police (Met) guidelines said.

But drivers could be prosecuted if caught on street cameras owned by local authorities in the capital.
The new guidelines say officers should not act if they spot drivers ignoring no entry signs, turning restrictions, traffic direction signs, flow priority, no u-turns and vehicle restrictions.

A Met spokesman said: “Following a review of police powers after the introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Transport for London Act 2003 police no longer has legal power to enforce certain moving traffic offences involving non compliance with signs.

“The power for enforcement now lies with Transport for London and local councils.

“Where officers see driving that is blatantly of a poor standard or that endangers other road users police will still intervene and take action under their general power to tackle dangerous or careless driving.”

Anti – camera campaigner Captain Gatso said: “This is purely about getting the cash into the council’s coffers.”

What are your thoughts on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below: