NEWTON St Cyres residents are the first in the county to take part in a new initiative against speeding motorists.

Devon and Cornwall Police is keen to educate motorists to reduce their speed which will have an impact on the amount of people injured or killed following a collision in or with a speeding vehicle.

In consultation with the public through the Police and Communities Together (PACT) process it was established that speeding vehicles was the biggest concern across both counties. From this process the Devon and Cornwall Police Speed Watch project was born.

Local Neighbourhood Policing teams, school children and whole communities now regularly monitor vehicle speeds throughout the entire force area.

Under the Speed Watch scheme, after the first two occasions a vehicle is caught the keeper will receive a warning letter, educational material and a visit from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

"When caught speeding by Speed Watch in the early stage of the process you will not receive any fine, points or even a training request.

"We will simply be saying: Your communities want you to slow down, so please SLOW DOWN", stated Sergeant Gary Watts, responsible for the project across the force.

He added: "However if drivers don't listen to this advice enforcement by officers could result in a fixed penalty ticket or court appearance next time they are caught.

"We will also be carrying out normal enforcement duties alongside the scheme as we always have done.

"Community Speed Watch will compliment this and work towards our ultimate goal of reducing the amount of people killed or seriously injured on our roads."

The scheme engages with the community through the Police Volunteer Programme and is aiming to educate drivers and reduce speeds as an alternative to enforcement.

Community Speed Watch schemes are starting in Newton St Cyres, Copplestone and Crediton and will be run by local volunteers fully supported by the local police.

On the day the "Speed Watch" was launched in Newton St Cyres, three motorists from more than 200 recorded during one hour which passed through the village on the A377, were recorded as having considerable excess speed.

Any motorist caught driving in excess of the speed limit will be logged on the Police computer and will receive a warning letter in the post.

On the second occasion the letter will be hand delivered by the Police. A third offence (committed anywhere in the country) could result in prosecution.

A Newton St Cyres Parish Council spokesperson explained: "This initiative comes as a result of the Parish Plan Report in which residents wanted the A377 speed to be cut down and the village made a safer place.

"We hope that the residents will welcome these volunteers and the work they are doing towards this end."

The local residents, six from Newton St Cyres, have undergone extensive training to enable them to take part in the Community Speed Watch. Others from Copplestone and Crediton are currently completing their training.

A "speed gun" is used to record the speed of the vehicles.

Alan Quick