EU Traffic Officers Visit North Yorkshire

Sun, 26 April 2009 Courtesy of: North Yorkshire Police

North Yorkshire Police welcomed four Polish police officers to the force last week to exchange knowledge and expertise on road safety.

The three-day visit which included two days of operational roads policing was part of TISPOL's three-year Lifesaver Project launched in 2008. 

TISPOL is the European Traffic Police Network of which North Yorkshire Police's  Deputy Chief Constable, Adam Briggs is the UK Council and Executive Member and former president.

The four officers who are from Warsaw, Kielce, and Busko-Zdrój, joined Traffic Constables Grant Gibson and Martin Smith on Operation Anvil patrols in the York and Selby areas. 

They also got to grips with Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, accompanying North Yorkshire's ANPR team on operations on the A1 and in the Selby area.

The visit was rounded off with a trip to Squire's Milk Bar near Sherburn in Elmet to engage with motorcyclists and examine the benefits of educating riders as well as law enforcement.

Central area (York and Selby) Roads Policing Inspector John Settle, said: "The visit has given us a great opportunity to learn from each other and share best practice in road safety and enforcement tactics. 

"We all share the common goal of saving lives and reducing casualties, TISPOL gives us the opportunity to share our expertise across Europe, helping to create safer roads, not just for the UK but the whole continent. "

Sub-Commissioner Marcin Sygocki based in Warsaw, added: "We have learned a great deal from our visit to North Yorkshire.  There are many similarities with the problems facing us on our roads such as motorcycle casualties, seat belt offences and speeding. The visit has given us the chance to share our knowledge and also gain an insight into UK roads policing which we can take back to our home forces and share with our colleagues. In particular, the UK's Bikesafe scheme and North Yorkshire's Operation Anvil."

'Lifesaver' is a three-year project running from June 2008 - May 2011.  It will benefit all TISPOL member countries and will focus on six European member states - Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, to assist with their road traffic enforcement and save lives.

In addition to officer exchanges, the project will include the production of an Operational Roads Policing Enforcement Handbook, Pan-European operations against the main causes of serious and fatal collisions including speed, seatbelts, drink and drugs.

Seminars and conferences will also be held covering technology, motorcycle safety, young drivers, drink and drugs, transport enforcement and cross-border enforcement and education campaigns.