466 cameras axed

At least 466 speed cameras have been axed in the biggest reduction since they were introduced in1992.

Speed camera authorities across the country have been forced to dramatically scale back enforcement following Government funding cuts.

Most will also prosecute fewer of the offenders they catch and instead offer more £100 ‘speed awareness’ courses to claw back costs.

Regions to axe the most cameras include Staffordshire, were over 100 have gone, and the West Midlands, where 248 out of 305 cameras will be empty boxes.

Others include Northamptonshire, which has lost 70, Somerset, Derbyshire, Hampshire and Kent.

In many areas, including Northamptonshire, Hampshire and Somerset, the partnership which ran the cameras has been closed and responsibility for remaining devices has been handed to the police or local council.

In the most comprehensive survey of its kind, MCN contacted each of the UK’s 42 regional speed camera authorities to ask how many cameras had been axed as of April 1, the start of the first financial year following Government cuts.

Read the full results in MCN, on sale now.