Speed cameras are driving a wedge between the public and the police.

The claim came from a top officer who said the police disappoint the public too often and must learn to provide a better service.

President of the Police Superintendents’ Association Ian Johnston warned that too many officers allow “pride and ego” to get in the way of improvements. He also called for a review of the way speed cameras are used because of the widespread public resentment bred by the technology.

Mr Johnston said that this had led to the creation of a barrier between officers and the public.

The chief superintendent with Gwent Police, said: “While officers continue to work hard and some pay the ultimate price, the brutal truth is that there are too many occasions when we disappoint the public.

“There are too many occasions when police stations are not open, when we don’t answer the phone and when having recorded an offence we don’t go back to keep people up-to-date on what we are doing.”

Mr Johnston said he believed the public want police to concentrate on combating anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related crime and drug abuse.

“One of the most negative aspects of how the public view the police is the use of speed cameras,” he said.

“The public don’t think they are fair and they don’t think there is a link between cameras and reducing road deaths or injuries.

“We should review the use of speed cameras. I am not looking for their abolition, but I am saying that we must re-assess them if we are serious about addressing public confidence.”

Mr Johnston, who will elaborate on his comments in his keynote speech at the association’s annual conference next week, said public confidence in the police was “dented and bruised”.

“Over half the complaints against the police are about rudeness and incivility, and about lack of service. We need to pay attention to that.

“The only way we are going to get better is by admitting that on these occasions we don’t get it right,” he said. “I think that pride and ego comes into play with lots of officers.”

Lack of confidence in the police was deterring decent people from getting involved when they witnessed a crime, the officer suggested.