New Home Office figures show the number of dedicated roads‑policing officers in England and Wales has fallen again, now at 4,143 officers, down 1,094 compared with ten years ago.
While the year‑on‑year drop is small (just six officers), the long‑term trend is stark: a 20% reduction in traffic policing over a decade.
A recent AA poll reveals what drivers think this means:
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Middle‑lane hogging
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Tailgating
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Seatbelt offences
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Handheld mobile phone use
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Drug driving
Drivers believe millions of motorists are escaping punishment because there simply aren’t enough officers on the roads.
The EV Café Takeaway
"More officers, more enforcement, more safety." - Sara
“Good old‑fashioned PC Plod on the road would be a good thing.” - Paul
“I rang a van’s ‘How’s my driving?’ number and said, ‘That van took that corner beautifully.’ Then hung up.” - John