Police and Crime Commissioner elections 2021

1. In Bristol in 2019 A & S Police recorded 318 incidents of injury to cyclists arising from collisions with motor vehicles. What initiatives would you like to see pursued by the police to reduce this number?  That is a significant number of collisions and I would like to see initiatives implemented to get that number down. I think it is even more important to do more to prioritise cycling and pedestrians as we edge out of COVID, await a return to a fuller bus service and take measures to better share space. Promoting cycling is also important in consideration of air quality and climate emergency implications. More people need to be encouraged to cycle, but they must also feel safe and be safe in doing so. I note ‘Operation Close Pass’ initiated in the West Midlands but more recently trialled by Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police Alliance area.  This initiative used undercover police cyclists to both monitor and pull dangerous drivers over.  It has been clear that this has had an impact. ASP has piloted something similar in response to National Police Chief’s Council’s ‘2Wheels Campaign‘.  It would be important to look at the findings and impact of this, review and continue with it if it works in reducing the number of incidents and indeed driver attitudes. ASP has also undergone ‘Operation Tramline’, generally tracking distracted drivers.   There needs to be a commitment to education and enforcement.  I would like to do more with an extensive education and awareness campaign in the first instance. Reiterating the highway code would be a start as it is clear that many drivers are unaware of how much space must be afforded – 1.5m or a cars width – to a cyclist when overtaking them, for example. 

2. Police records indicate that in the overwhelming majority of these incidents the motor vehicle driver was at fault, but in only 12% of these cases was any enforcement action is undertaken, e.g. warning letters sent, points awarded, education required or prosecutions initiated. How would you envisage ensuring that all incidents of careless or dangerous driving are thoroughly investigated and appropriate enforcement action taken? It is quite clear that we need a change in attitudes in relation to understanding and accepting the seriousness of these incidents. We must share the highways without a hierarchy biased towards car drivers, particularly as we try to mitigate the effects of air pollution and climate change. Equally, in a post COVID world, we need a better use of shared spaces where we can continue to social distance when needed. In order to raise awareness and change attitudes and behaviours, it is important that we do have enforcement and that an effort is made to follow up with every at fault driver (and cyclist where appropriate) because to leave it is a lost opportunity to challenge and educate.  Messaging is important; it is a way of letting drivers know that their actions were not ok and have been dangerous; they must understand the negative impact on the victims life also. Leaving things unchallenged can mislead people into thinking they are not at fault and should do nothing differently.  In terms of education, a simulator experience might be good so that more non-cyclist drivers can appreciate how many near misses there actually are on the roads and why!  Appreciation for how scary cycling can be and how disregarded cyclists can be treated is necessary.  To make road users safe, it is important that all road users also know and adhere to their rights and responsibilities. 

3. In relation to near misses logged online by cyclists, the police take no action other than record the incidents. In the case of video submissions of close passes and other dangerous driving submitted by cyclists, the police do investigate but do not respond with information as to what action they will take. If elected, would you ensure that all such incidents, however, reported, were thoroughly investigated, appropriate action was taken and that cyclists were informed as to the outcomes. Yes, because I believe in putting victims at the centre and education for offenders.  Every victim deserves to have a follow-up.  Communication is key. Cyclists should be kept informed because any accident can potentially be traumatic, and enabling a mental recovery may be dependent on getting a sense of justice and closure on the matter, so not being informed leaves things unresolved.  A restorative approach should also be considered where agreed by the victim and practical.  Victims matter, and they must feel like they matter. It is hard to see the point in logging something if nothing is to be done with that information. Maybe the logging can assist in identifying problem areas geographically, but again if nothing is done with this information, then what is the point of logging it!  I do not understand why citizens who are cyclists are afforded less information about incidents committed against them.  Surely it is in the public interest to know what enforcement or action has been taken? I would like to think that there could be capacity to run a significant road safety campaign and also spend more time fully investigating and monitoring all reported incidents. I would hope that this more committed approach would start to impact on and reduce the numbers of incidents. 

4. Data on motoring offences is not regularly shared. If elected, will you ensure that data on roads policing activity and motoring offences is published regularly, that the number of injury collisions which result in prosecution is made public and that this data is broken down by vehicle type and local authority area? Transparency is key. I do not understand the reason why this information and data is not regularly published or public, and so unless fully convinced otherwise, I would advocate that this information is published regularly and made public which in itself would demonstrate a shift in priority and messaging on the matter. This approach would be also be necessary if a major road safety and cycling campaign is to be launched as it would provide quantitative data on the findings. I note that Bristol Cycling has collected some data. It is good that there are a number of Cycling Forums who were meeting regularly in various authority areas; if needed, I would support better communication with the police’s Road Safety Department and team and the forums to reiterate a collective vision for the region’s roads and cycling which includes more local police on bikes as well. 

Website: www.cleolake.co.uk Email: cleo.lake@greenparty.org.uk Twitter: @Cleo4PCC Facebook: @Cleo4PCC Instagram: @Cleo4PCC

1. In Bristol in 2019 A & S Police recorded 318 incidents of injury to cyclists arising from collisions with motor vehicles. What initiatives would you like to see pursued by the police to reduce this number? I would like to see A&SC running more schemes like the West Midlands’ Close Pass undercover cyclist scheme so that bad drivers are identified and instantly receive education on the consequences of their driving and how to improve it. I would also want to invest in the Roads Policing team so that there are more resources available to enforce directly on more roads, especially in 20 mph areas. Community Speedwatch teams can be very effective – I was involved in this on my own estate pre-Covid – but there are some streets where it cannot be done safely and often it is hard to find and keep volunteers. The PCC has a Road Safety fund for making grants to community organisations; I would like to know how much that has achieved and if money needs to be spent differently to ensure widespread road safety education.

2. Police records indicate that in the overwhelming majority of these incidents the motor vehicle driver was at fault, but in only 12% of these cases was any enforcement action undertaken e.g. warning letters sent, points awarded, education required or prosecutions initiated. How would you envisage ensuring that all incidents of careless or dangerous driving are thoroughly investigated and appropriate enforcement action taken? This would be partly answered by ensuring that training – both on and off the job – acknowledged and tackled the prevailing culture that road crimes are somehow less important than others. Road safety is a huge priority for people in our communities and this needs to be reflected in local and central policing priorities, which again comes down to providing enough resources. It is clear that a finite number of police officers cannot be everywhere, but effective use of third-party reporting and camera footage would mean they could effectively be anywhere.

3. In relation to near misses logged online by cyclists, the police take no action other than record the incidents. In the case of video submissions of close passes and other dangerous driving submitted by cyclists, the police do investigate but do not respond with information as to what action they will take. If elected, would you ensure that all such incidents, however reported, were thoroughly investigated, appropriate action was taken and that cyclists were informed as to the outcomes. A&SC has an excellent portal for uploading video submissions but managing people is as important as managing the technology. The people submitting the videos are victims as well as witnesses and need to be treated as such. Confidence in the police will increase if people are kept informed of the progress and outcome of their submission; they were after all harmed by dangerous driving. It is not enough to log the data.

4. Data on motoring offences is not regularly shared. If elected, will you ensure that data on roads policing activity and motoring offences is published regularly, that the number of injury collisions which result in prosecution is made public and that this data is broken down by vehicle type and local authority area? We have to provide regular reporting of enforcement activity both at the local level and for the Force as a whole. The social media awareness campaigns need to be backed up with regular (if only annual) reports on the work undertaken and outcomes. These activities and records need to be shared widely with the community. I would want to review the effectiveness of the current harm assessment approach for determining allocation of resources and also the effectiveness of the camera enforcement. Cameras may detect and enforce the greatest number of incidents but I do not know what proportion of these relate to harm done or nearly done to cyclists. A&SC have to work with groups, communities and authorities to be fully effective. I would be happy to work towards the recommendations set out by Bristol Cycling Campaign, Roadpeace and Cycling UK.

Find out more about Heather’s plans for better policing at https://www.facebook.com/Heather-Shearer-Councillor-Page-110016944217312 or email heather4betterpolicing@gmail.com

“It is difficult for me to answer your questions.  As you know the Chief Constable has, rightly,  complete independent Operational Control.  All of the questions you asked fall into the Operational realm. My role is to set the strategy via the Police and Crime Plan- this in turn must reflect what the residents require for their policing priorities and rest assured my manifesto contains a section on dangerous driving.  I have signed up to Vision Zero and attended their night with PCC and candidates and I want to make happen in A&S.  So please forgive me but I’m not going to promise something I cannot deliver other than I want to make vision zero happen. Any PCC candidate  who promises more is being disingenuous.”

Contact the Campaign Office: 16 Northgate, Bridgwater TA6 3EU.  Tel: 07469 800 253. Email: mark@markshelford.org.uk 

1. In Bristol in 2019 A & S Police recorded 318 incidents of injury to cyclists arising from collisions with motor vehicles. What initiatives would you like to see pursued by the police to reduce this number? That is a shockingly high number of injuries and needs to be reduced. If elected, I have pledged to develop a Road Safety Strategy in consultation with road user groups including Bristol Road Justice to improve road safety. For cyclists, I believe that one of the most effective ways to reduce injury numbers is education of road users, especially motorists and so I would also like to see the police pursue a communications campaign aimed at educating motorists on the vulnerability of cyclists. I would also work with the City Council to improve road architecture to protect cyclists. I am a strong supporter of Operation Close Pass and would ensure this is run regularly by Avon and Somerset Police, and would also ask the police to review Operation Near Miss submissions to see if enforcement or education activity is needed.

2. Police records indicate that in the overwhelming majority of these incidents the motor vehicle driver was at fault, but in only 12% of these cases was any enforcement action undertaken e.g. warning letters sent, points awarded, education required or prosecutions initiated. How would you envisage ensuring that all incidents of careless or dangerous driving are thoroughly investigated and appropriate enforcement action taken? Investigations of these types of road incidents is a key area which is currently under resourced. Central Government cuts to the Avon and Somerset police’s budget has meant a significant reduction in trained officer numbers over the last decade, and while numbers have started to increase again recently, rebuilding takes time. However, if elected I would prioritise investigations of road incidents involving cyclists for additional resource. For example, I would ask the police to increase the number of trained Roads Policing Officers so that investigations could be carried out in all these cases and to work closely with the Road Safety team to carry out more education and preventative work. I would regularly review the data on roads policing activity and monitor offences to ensure that appropriate action is being taken in incidents of careless or dangerous driving.

3. In relation to near misses logged online by cyclists, the police take no action other than record the incidents. In the case of video submissions of close passes and other dangerous driving submitted by cyclists, the police do investigate but do not respond with information as to what action they will take. If elected, would you ensure that all such incidents, however reported, were thoroughly investigated, appropriate action was taken and that cyclists were informed as to the outcomes. If elected, I would ask the police to review the Near Miss submissions and see if any enforcement or education activity was appropriate. I believe that Avon and Somerset receive about 200 videos of dangerous driving submitted by cyclists per month, review them all and that approximately 90% have positive action taken, for example enforcement, education or a warning letter. There are some concerns about what data can be shared legally with those submitting the evidence but I know the police are looking at this and seeking to expand the amount of information they share. I know how important it is for public confidence of the police that victims and witnesses see positive action being taken. If elected I would ask the police to share anonymised, high level outcome updates in each case and to otherwise work to share as much information publicly as possible.

4. Data on motoring offences is not regularly shared. If elected, will you ensure that data on roads policing activity and motoring offences is published regularly, that the number of injury collisions which result in prosecution is made public and that this data is broken down by vehicle type and local authority area? Following my recent meeting with Bristol Road Justice to discuss road safety, I updated my roads policing policy to include meeting regularly with road user groups and publishing road safety data. If elected, I will commit to publishing this information immediately and to working with the police to capture and publish any information which is not currently available.

You can find further details of my road safety plans on my website: https://johnsmith4pcc.com/plans-safer-roads-all-users/. To contact me for further questions or for more information on my campaign and priorities: Email: john@johnsmith4pcc.com Facebook: JohnSmithForPcc Twitter: johnsmith4pcc