Ref: PCC/D/2024/02
Executive Summary
This report outlines the funding requirements to support the agreed proposal to purchase two TruCam devices (£17,198) (to increase to 5 in the force – 1 per LPA), supporting technology (£6,000) and provide advance funding for the Traffic Processing Unit (TPU) to manage the extra throughput for the first year at grade B (£28,444 per annum).
Maximum funding required – £51,642.
TruCam devices are an innovative tool for measuring and enforcing the speed of road users without the need to stop and engage the driver. Instead, the device automatically records and processes all the necessary information for TPU to issue the necessary Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP).
Proposal
To purchase two additional TruCam devices and to cover the salary and on-costs of a TPU post (Grade B) in 2024/25
Approval Of
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
I hereby approve the above proposal.
Signed: John Campion PCC
Part 1 – Non-Confidential/Exempt Facts and Figures
Supporting Report
This report outlines the funding requirements to support the agreed proposal to purchase two TruCam devices (£17,198), supporting technology (£6,000) and provide advance funding for the Traffic Processing Unit (TPU) to manage the extra throughput for the first year at grade B (£28,444 per annum).
Maximum funding required – £51,642.
TruCam devices are an innovative tool for measuring and enforcing the speed of road users without the need to stop and engage the driver. Instead, the device automatically records and processes all the necessary information for TPU to issue the necessary Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP).
The anticipated benefits:
• Volume – The devices can process high volumes of vehicles at the locations known to present the most harm to our communities without the need for officer engagement.
• Quicker Processing – the devices provide the organisation with processed information however the downloading of the images and subsequent processing to offence disposal follows the same path as all camera offences currently processed within the TPU.
• Multi-Operator – The devices can be deployed by all officers, PCSO’s and staff with appropriate training meaning better use of available resources
The intention will be to deploy the two new devices [alongside three already owned by the force] to the five Local Policing Areas (LPAs) to support the Safer West Mercia Plan and meet the objectives of the Local Policing Charter. Additional technology (networked laptop computers) will be required to run bespoke software and ensure TPU have access to saved data. Service Level Agreements (SLA) will need to be written to process up to 500 TruCam detections per month, equating to 100 per LPA which can be accommodated by the resourcing increase proposed.
For year two, and subject of review, the additional processing costs can be offset against the expected surplus funding generated through speed awareness courses.
Training call be delivered internally at zero cost.
Strategic Considerations
This decision supports the following element(s) of the Safer West Mercia Plan:
- Building a more secure West Mercia
The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:
- Reduce the excessive harm associated with West Mercia’s roads
Benefits and their Realisation
The devices can process high volumes of vehicles at the locations known to present the most harm to our communities without the need for officer engagement. The devices can be deployed by all officers, PCSO’s and staff with appropriate training meaning better use of available resources.
The benefits will be realised upon roll out and training with supporting staff recruited asap (recruitment will commence as soon as funding agreed with SLA put in place accordingly)
Author
Gareth Morris Date: 22/01/2024
Financial and Treasurer Comments
That a maximum of £51,642 will be made available from the Road Safety reserve in 2024/25 to fund this investment.
This will be to fund the purchase of two TruCam devices (£17,198) (to increase to 5 in the force – 1 per LPA) and the supporting technology (£6,000).
The remaining £28,444 will be available to fund the salary and on-costs of an additional Grade B post. The funding will be available to meet actual costs incurred between 01/04/24 – 31/03/25 of an additional TPU post above current establishment.
The 25/26 income budget will reflect the additional grade B cost for that year (as well as other factors), so that the additional investment is at least cost neutral to the overall budget.
Signed
Treasurer, Date: 15/02/2024
Legal Considerations
By virtue of schedule 11, paragraph 14 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Police and Crime Commissioner may do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of commissioner. That includes: entering into contracts and other agreements (whether legally binding or not) and acquiring and disposing of property (including land).
Public Access to Information
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Part 1 of this form will be made available on the West Mercia Commissioner’s website. Any facts and advice that should not be made automatically available on request are not included in Part 1 but instead in a separate Part 2 report.
Officer Approval
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Signed. Date: 20/02/2024
