Why speeding Sheffield drivers could now be caught out by their neighbours

People who are fed up with motorists using their neighbourhood as a personal racetrack and endangering lives are being invited to pick up a speed gun and do something about it.

Community Speedwatch has already proved successful elsewhere in the country and is now being rolled out in Sheffield.

Members of the public have been asked to suggest speeding hotspots where volunteers can join forces with South Yorkshire Police to catch drivers going too fast.

The first operation took place recently on Hemsworth Road, where volunteers from the Gleadless Valley Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) helped police clock six motorists exceeding the speed limit.

Warning letters are sent to speeding drivers, in an attempt to get them to change their ways.

But the people behind the scheme say that where education is 'blatantly ignored' and evidence of repeat or excessive speeding is found, even across county borders, enforcement and prosecution will follow.

Julie Barszczewski, vice chairwoman of Gleadless Valley TARA, who was one of half a dozen members of the public who helped conduct the speed checks on Hemsworth Road.

"It was fantastic. It's a great way of getting drivers to watch their speed as there have been problems with speeding there and on Blackstock Road," said the mum-of-two, who is a full-time student.

"I think it will make a difference because a warning letter will be enough to make people think 'yes, I was in the wrong, and do I really want to lose my licence for speeding?'.

"It's a really rewarding way to spend around an hour of your time, and I'd definitely encourage other people to get involved because it's a brilliant idea."

Police are already planning to join residents in Gleadless Valley again for more speed checks on Blackstock Road, and there has also been interest from groups in Nether Edge and Dore.

Gleadless Valley was the first place in Sheffield where Community Speedwatch was introduced but police are now keen to roll it out across the city and they want to hear from groups wishing to get involved.

Speeding drivers receive an advisory letter but if the initiative shows there is a significant problem at any location, a mobile speed camera – usually dispatched based on accident statistics – may be sent to enforce the speed limit there.

Inspector Colette Fitzgibbons, of the Sheffield South West neighbourhood police team, said: “Community Speedwatch is an opportunity for people who are concerned about speeding in their area to get involved and help us do something about it.

“It’s also a chance for us as police to build better community relations, because we get a lot of complaints about speeding.

“It’s about educating people in an attempt to reduce speeding, and it’s definitely something we’d like to develop.”

Any groups wishing to get involved with Community Speedwatch in their neighbourhood should contact their neighbourhood policing team, details of which can be found at www.southyorks.police.uk/find-out/your-neighbourhood-policing-team.