Speed camera technician ignored basic checks

A Lancashire Constabulary speed camera technician has been sacked after failing to correctly calibrate the mobile camera he was operating.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation into the allegations that the man had failed to carry out his work correctly. The investigation uncovered that on a number of occasions between September 2006 – when the man started his job – and May 2007, the speed camera technician had failed to correctly calibrate the equipment.

By not following the set procedures that ensure distance measurement and alignment is correct, there was no guarantee the camera had worked correctly.

A total of 435 tapes of the technician’s work were checked, and 41 were found to have faults. The technician had signed court papers to certify that all the equipment had been in correct working order, despite knowing none of the necessary checks had been made.

As a result of the man’s failure to carry out checks and calibration, 545 offences had to be withdrawn, £35,585 worth of fines and payments refunded and 1,500 penalty points rescinded.

The camera technician was the highest performing in the force in terms of offences captured. Naseem Malik, IPCC commissioner for the North West, said: “This speed camera technician failed to undertake basic checks of the systems he was operating and as a result he undermined the integrity of hundreds of prosecutions. It would appear he was proud of his position as the top performing camera technician, but it would appear he pursued quantity at the expense of quality – and at the expense of hundreds of motorists.”

No criminal charges have been brought due to insufficient evidence. It has been recommended that Lancashire Constabulary reviews its training of speed camera technicians, making sure their work is regularly checked.

“I applaud the fact that Lancashire Constabulary tackled this issue vigorously and it is worth noting that during the investigation the work of every other camera technician was checked and found to be in order. The decision of the disciplinary panel is the right one,” added Ms Malik.