Operational partnerships - Speeding offences SOP (R02e)

1.1. This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been reviewed in July 2025 – minor amendment terminology, and to 3.2 which previously listed the trigger for summons at 1 mph less – this has now been updated to reflect the current NPCC guidance published 2025.  

2.1  This SOP provides guidance on the enforcement of speeding and other camera detected offences.  The procedure is not intended to prevent police officers exercising appropriate discretion to deal with offences at the time by way of informal advice.  The force will apply NPCC guidelines on speed offence disposals in relation to all offences reported. 

 

3.1  Kent Police no longer use officer issued fixed penalty tickets.  When an officer decides to report a driver for an alleged speeding or other traffic offence this will be achieved by completion of a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) at the time of the offence.  The only exception to this is when the offender does not have a satisfactory UK address.  In these circumstances authorised officers are empowered to require payment of an immediate cash deposit and deal with the matter by way of a Graduated Fixed Penalty Roadside Deposit Notice. 

 

3.2.   Speeding Offences will be dealt with in accordance with national NPCC guidelines.

 

Speed Limit	Diversion Course	Fixed Penalty	Summons
20	24-31	24-34	36
30	35-42	35-49	51
40	46-53	46-65	67
50	57-64	57-75	77
60	68-75	68-85	87
70	79-86	79-95	97

 

4.1  Kent Police is the Enforcement Authority for all camera detected speed, red traffic light and Red X offences.   Breaches of parking and other traffic management offences such as breach of bus lane restrictions are not criminal offences and as such are the responsibility of the local authority.

 

4.2  There are no targets as to the volume of camera offences to be enforced.  

 

4.3  Camera detected offences fall within the following categories:

(a)  Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership (KMSCP) 

Kent Police are members of the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership and operate in support of its aims to reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.  Fixed cameras installed under the governance of the partnership are placed at locations where there is a history of such collisions.  In accordance with the clear force policy of focusing on road safety related offences the enforcement of offences detected by these cameras will be treated as a priority.

 

(b)  National Highways 

National Highways have installed cameras at a number of locations on the Strategic Road  Network (SRN).  These cameras are capable of detecting speed and breach of Red X offences where applicable.  Although these are principally installed for traffic management purposes the view is that they make a substantial contribution towards keeping traffic on major roads safe.  This is particularly the case in relation to cameras capable of detecting Red X offences which pose a major threat to workers and road users who may be stranded within a closed lane.  

 

Highways England provide funding to the Force to cover the costs associated with the enforcement of offences detected by SRN enforcement cameras.  The level of funding is set in accordance with a national formula and specified within a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in force for each scheme.  The funding level is set against the context of a minimum number of offences being enforced, which is in the range of 250-300 per scheme per calendar month but this has no relevance to the volume of traffic or number of offences being committed.

 

4.4   Priorities of Enforcement

Camera detected offences will be dealt with by the Traffic Enforcement Team within Kent Police Traffic Process Unit.  As cameras are capable of detecting significant volumes of offences at any one time the ability to enforce all offences is limited by resource capacity.  It is therefore necessary to specify the level of priorities, to ensure road safety and in line with threat, harm and risk against where enforcement will take place.  

There will be no targets aimed at increasing levels of income.

 

All offences detected by cameras installed under the governance of the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership.  Other than in exceptional circumstances all offences detected by these cameras will be enforced.

 

These cameras are installed at locations which have previously seen collisions involving people being killed or seriously injured and enforcement is seen as a major tool to prevent further such collisions.

Note: Exceptional circumstances will include instances such as camera failure and/or wider technological failures where validation of offence is prohibited.

 

Offences detected by mobile operators visiting KMSCP sites in support of fixed cameras or where for environmental reasons a fixed camera cannot be installed or for some reason is not operational.  Other than in exceptional circumstances all offences detected by these mobile cameras will be enforced.

 

Operators attend KMSCP sites with known KSI history and also occasional locations where there have been substantial community concerns over the levels of speeding in the area.

 

Note: Exceptional circumstances will include instances such as camera failure and/or wider technological failures where validation of offence is prohibited.

 

Offences detected by traffic management cameras installed by National Highways on the Strategic Road Network with Red X offences being processed as a priority followed by speeding offences.  The number of offences viewed, verified and enforced is determined by the relevant MOU.  

 

The force will ensure the number offences determined by the MOU will be enforced each month.  Offences over and above those set within the MOU will only be enforced where capacity allows.  This is assessed weekly by the Traffic Enforcement Manager. 

 

Owing to the high levels of traffic using SRN roads HE cameras have the capacity to detect substantial numbers of offences.  The funding provided supports the enforcement of a relatively small number and therefore the force is not able to provide the resources to enforce all HE camera offences detected.  It is therefore necessary to limit the number of offences detected under this priority according to the resources available to process them.  This will be done on a random basis but with priority always given to the enforcement of Red X offences which if breached could have serious implications to the safety of others.

5.1  Camera offences are recorded digitally and downloaded by staff within the TET according to the priorities outlined above.  Offences recorded by cameras have driver liability rather than keeper liability.  It is therefore necessary for the process to be focused on identifying the driver at the time as it is they who presents the continued risk to road safety.

 

5.2    Whilst each case is different the process of dealing with a camera offence is as follows:

 

Verification of Offence

1. Offences are downloaded digitally with each one being viewed by TET staff.

2. Check is performed that the speed recorded by the camera is corroborated by a secondary method.

3. Check is performed as to whether there is evidence likely to result in a successful outcome.

4. When it is assessed that a prosecution is not likely the matter will be cancelled, and a reason code provided.

5. Cancellations will be dip checked by the Traffic Enforcement Team Manager.

6. PNC checks are performed automatically to identify the Registered Keeper.

Identification of Driver

1. Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) & Notice Requiring Name & Address of Driver (172) sent to registered keeper.

2. If keeper accepts liability as driver the disposal options are considered (NPCC guidelines).

3. If keeper nominates a third party a further NIP & 172 Notice will be sent to the person nominated.  This will continue until the driver is identified and accepts liability.

4. Reminders are sent at 35 and 45 days.

5. When driver is identified and admits liability the disposal options are considered (NPCC guidelines).

6. If the driver is not identified further enquiries are undertaken.  This may include credit checks, visits to home address and/or workplace.

Disposal Options

• Liability accepted: Disposal is in accordance with guidance issued by NPCC and outlined in Section 3.2.

• Driver Not Identified: Consideration against registered keeper or other person who has failed to provide details for the offence of Failing to Provide the Chief Officer of Police with the name and address of the driver, Contrary to Section 172 Road Traffic Act.

• Decisions on whether to prosecute will be made by the Case Preparation Officer, within the TET Court Team – in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service Full Code Test.

• Decisions are reviewed by dip sample, completed by the Senior Prosecution Officer.

Prosecutions

• Prosecutions for speed camera and 172 offences are police decisions.

• Private individual Single Justice Procedure (SJP) provides a summary of the evidence and a timeline of the offence details leading to the point of prosecution.

• The SJP will be completed by the Case Preparation Team (acting as OIC) other than for mobile camera offences.

• The OIC will give evidence before the Court if required.

• The SJP will not normally contain MG11 statements but be based on a written summary.  

• The SJP process involves a single Magistrate considering the matter on the basis of the notice alone.

• Neither the defendant nor the prosecution will attend the hearing.

• For companies or organisations, the SJP can only be used for individuals and therefore is not suitable for organisations.

• Organisational defendants will be dealt with through the issue of a Postal Requisition.

• This matter will be dealt with initially in a Police Led Prosecution Court unless the matter results in a Not Guilty Plea when the case will be adjourned for CPS to prosecute at trial.

Not Guilty Pleas

• Offences which result in a Not Guilty Plea ultimately become the responsibility of the CPS to prosecute at trial.

• When a Not Guilty Plea is entered the Traffic Summons Team will identify this from Court results.

• An upgrade file will be prepared containing all necessary MG forms and disclosure material.

• This will be sent to CPS, via the Athena/CMS interface no later than 21 days prior to trial, in accordance with the Director of Public Prosecutions guidance on de-specified offences.

4.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out and shows the proposals in this procedure would have no potential impact or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

5.1 This SOP has been assessed as low risk.

o Head of Roads Policing

o Finance

o Human Resources

o Legal

o Freedom of Information

o Estates

o Health and Safety

7.1 This procedure will be monitored by the Head of the Traffic Process Unit in accordance with current NPCC guidelines. 

 

7.2. This procedure will be reviewed every two years with the next review taking place in July 2027. 

9.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management). 

10.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy below.