FOI 331-2025 / Mar 2025 / Speed detection
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 331-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 18th March 2025.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Q1. Are all operators of speed detection device Serial No: TC007872 certified and trained to use the device?
Q1 response: Yes.
Q2. What are the operational guidelines for how this device should be used in mobile speed enforcement?
Q2 response: The unit is used as per the manufacturers guidelines and all operators are trained to use the equipment.
Q3a. How are users taught to use radar detection systems like the one previously mentioned?
Q3a response: Trained by qualified persons.
Q3b. What reasons would the system be put into manual mode?
Q3b response: No recorded information held.
Q3c. What’s the distance users are trained to measure at? And how does this measurement occur (eg an average speed measurement over a set distance, say 10 metres, for example, or an impulse measurement taken only once)?
Q3c response: Users are trained to use the unit across its specified range. The speed is calculated over 0.33 seconds and one measurement is taken per offence.
Q4. What is the failure rate of these kinds of measurements (in terms of successfully measuring vs incorrect/inaccurate/failed measurements) and what is the breakdown of reasons for those issues occurring? For example, do specific vehicle features like colour, material (aluminium, carbon fibre, etc.), or vehicle safety functions (like a built-in adaptive drive radar system) impact readings?
Q4 response: No recorded information held.
Q5. Is there an impact caused by other vehicles causing interdictions in the same or opposite lane that may cause measurements to be incorrect or produce otherwise erroneous results?
Q5 response: The unit is Home Office Type Approved, which means that it has been through a range of stringent tests to determine that it is able to produce reliable evidence.
Q6. And finally, it would be nice to understand why the vans don’t record video directly, as this seems like a logical way to prove any alleged malfeasance?
Q6 response: Please be advised that this is not a valid request under the Freedom of information Act 2000 (“the Act”), as it does not fulfil the requirement of Section 8, in that it is not a request for specific recorded information held. Please be advised that the Act only extends to requests for recorded information and does not require public authorities to answer questions if this would mean creating new information, or giving an opinion or judgement that is not already recorded.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB