Police pay to keep speed cameras

Speed cameras will remain switched on at "high risk" sites across the West Midlands after police agreed to pay more than £1 million to keep them operational, it was revealed today.

West Midlands Police will pay the money to fund fixed, mobile and traffic light cameras in 2011/12.

It comes after councils scrapped £750,000 of funding to pay for old- style speed cameras after it was ruled their wet film technology was outdated.

Inspector Mick Hartill from the force's camera enforcement unit said its £1m investment would "ensure that speed cameras will remain operational at key collision sites".

The money will be used for fixed site safety cameras, red light cameras and mobile speed cameras.

He added: "We have carefully reviewed our priorities and are committed to continuing to operate a safety camera operation, despite the withdrawal of funding."

The investment comes despite West Midlands Police being forced to make savings of £125m as part of Government cuts.

Chairman of the West Midlands Transport Sub Committee and Aldridge councillor Tom Ansell said: "Police should be funding these speed cameras. The force gets income from speed awareness courses so it is only right and proper that they fund the cameras."

Out of the 304 cameras across the region, 86 are already "dummies". Only three cameras in Wolverhampton and 34 regionally are frequently used at present, with operating times limited to 15 days a month.

Funding for speed cameras was previously ring-fenced, paid direct by councils to the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership.

But decisions on funding can now be made by local authorities. Council spending for this year has been limited to £500,000 for mobile patrols and flash up warning signs.