Foreign drivers escape speed camera rap

Almost 250 drivers caught speeding on Norfolk's roads escaped prosecution last year - because they were foreign.Figures released by police in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show 248 vehicles with non-UK registration plates set off speed cameras in the county in 2008.

Almost 250 drivers caught speeding on Norfolk's roads escaped prosecution last year - because they were foreign.

Figures released by police in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show 248 vehicles with non-UK registration plates set off speed cameras in the county in 2008.

In its reply, the force adds: “Of the 248 non-UK registered vehicles activating speed safety cameras, zero notices of intended prosecution were issued.”

The letter explains that fixed-penalty tickets for speeding can only be issued to drivers holding a UK licence, who live in the UK.

Last night, Norfolk Camera Safety Partnership, which runs the county's fixed and mobile speed cameras, said: “The procedure we, and all police forces, have to undertake is to obtain all our information from the DVLA in Swansea. If they hold no data, we are unable to proceed any further.”

The information was requested by North West Norfolk Liberal Democrats. Judith Brown, Lib Dem county councillor for Clenchwarton and King's Lynn South, said: “People will quite understandably be pretty angry to find out that some speeding drivers are being let off like this.

“It shouldn't matter whether you're from Norwich, London or Timbuktu - everybody driving on Norfolk's roads should be subject to the same rules.

“The police need to have better communication with their counter-parts abroad to sort this out.”