Essex Police no longer have enough traffic officers

[falkor]

11:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News By Adam Cornell
LIVES are being put at risk because Essex Police no longer have enough traffic officers, it has been claimed.

A source close to the police says poorly-trained officers are being sent out to deal with incident on fast, busy roads such as the A12, A127 and A13 with inadequate equipment, and cars without the proper markings.

It is happening because trained traffic officers are now expected also to do too general police work, so are rarely available to answer traffic calls.

The source said: “Officers who have received only minimal training are being sent to the A12, where two police officers have been killed in the past.
“They are being asked to close the road or close a lane, using a car not up to EU safety marking standards for use on fast roads and is often under-equipped.

“Apart from one traffic car, officers are now being sent out alone most of the time.”

This, he added, put the lives of officers and road-users in real danger.

He said: “The traditional traffic officer no longer exists. They are being used as the first unit to attend practically everything, so when you do need them, they are not available. because they’ve been called to a domestic dispute.”

[Guinness Man]

It's also happening on The M11, dont want to throw any stones but arrived at rtc to find Police on scene who had drag vehicle to hard shoulder HATO style with thier Discovery when the back of the Ambulance opened and told the Police the driver was taking a turn for the worse. Fortunately it all turned out okay I dont blame the officers involved totally, but there are many who share the blame in this.