A MOBILE speed camera is likely to be operational in Jersey in early 2025, the Island’s police chief has revealed.
Chief officer Robin Smith said collaboration between the force and the Infrastructure Department, which has responsibility for main roads, had reached the stage where a camera would be leased at an annual cost of £35,000.
It will be the first time a speed camera has been used in Jersey since an ill-fated experiment in 2007.
The delivery and setting-up of the equipment involves a lead-in time of around 12 weeks, Mr Smith added, meaning the camera could come into service in early 2025, potentially in January.
The police chief was speaking at the latest hearing of the Children’s, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
Constable Mark Labey, a member of the panel, said the news was welcome, estimating that up to 60% of parish issues related to speeding, which also left older Islanders fearful of going out because of the risk of encountering speeding vehicles.
Mr Smith said that the force would be making motorists aware once the camera was ready to be turned on.
“The best way to do this is to explain to and involve Islanders, not just catch baddies – an educational process has much more value,” he said.
“The camera is latest technology and it’s expensive, but I’d guess that preventing one serious crash would easily pay for that camera, let alone the public tragedy that comes with it.”
Using data and images from the camera to enforce speed limits and facilitate enforcement action would involve a “jump into darkness”, Mr Smith said, adding that the camera would be calibrated “so that we get the more extreme speeding, rather than people who are a few miles [per hour] above the limit”.
The effectiveness of the camera was likely to be reviewed after six months’ usage, he concluded.
A police spokesperson subsequently clarified that the camera was “small and mobile”, with the ability to provide evidence of speeding at any time of the day.
The spokesperson added: “This will ensure we are picking up readings for those actively partaking in anti-social driving, mainly at night, which is our main concern as these are high-harm, high-risk road users.
“The camera equipment is being leased to avoid buying equipment which may become out of date very quickly – the lease agreement costs around £35,000 per year and includes the camera, operator training, maintenance, periodic calibration, and supporting systems for data processing.”
Mr Smith also issued a follow-up statement, saying: “By focusing on those who engage in dangerous and anti-social driving behaviours, which impact our community, our aim is to reduce accidents and protect lives.
“We also want to acknowledge the invaluable support of the honorary police in our efforts to maintain safety on our roads.
“Our collaboration with Infrastructure has been crucial for the implementation of this initiative and the device will complement our ongoing road safety efforts.”
