ACPO: “Hidden speed cameras are against police Code of Practice.”

Hidden speed cameras are against the police Code of Practice, the Association of Chief Police Officers has confirmed.

It comes after MCN revealed officers in North Wales were hiding in a horse box to catch speeders while a Derbyshire camera van had been painted plain blue and resembled a workman’s van.

Guidelines issued by ACPO to all police forces state: “Except in exception operational circumstances, devices should normally be operated from positions where they will be clearly visible to the public… The operator must be clearly visible to the public and the target vehicle throughout the check.”

An ACPO spokeswoman said: “This Code of Practice is for the guidance of the enforcer and for the information of those accused of alleged offences who wish to satisfy themselves the correct procedures have been followed when technology was used to detect the alleged offence.”