In the December print magazine there’s details of a recent freight crime conference run by the Road Haulage Association. Meanwhile …
Derbyshire is the latest police force to accredit officers from VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) with the power to stop goods and passenger vehicles for spot-checks.
In the past a police officer has always been present during spot-checks to stop the traffic as only they had the authority to do this. Now VOSA has the power to stop vehicles this will increase VOSA’s effectiveness and flexibility in targeting vehicles which are likely to break roadworthiness and traffic legislation, it is claimed.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Goodwin said: "The previous method of working was not always an efficient use of police time and meant VOSA staff were reliant on the availability of uniformed officers to stop vehicles at checks. This new agreement now means police officers no longer need to be present solely to stop vehicles but instead can concentrate on their core policing duties of casualty reduction and tackling crime and disorder."
The Police Reform Act 2002 allows Chief Constables to accredit VOSA staff with the power to stop goods and passenger vehicles. The Power to Stop scheme has already been launched in 22 police force areas around the country, and, subject to chief officers’ agreement, the remaining police forces in England & Wales are expected to accredit VOSA in the coming months.
Hugh Edwards, Product Strategy & Policy Director for VOSA, said: "Receiving accreditation from Derbyshire Police is a further endorsement of VOSA’s role in targeting unsafe vehicles and drivers for enforcement action."
VOSA officers will operate using distinctly liveried Ford Galaxies with yellow and black battenburg side markings, yellow and orange chevrons at the rear and a roof bar with amber lights and variable matrix signing. All VOSA accredited staff have received police training in how to safely stop vehicles. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was created on 1 April 2003 by merging the former Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network Division of the Department for Transport.
