New equipment that will target drivers using Jersey’s roads as a “speedway” is due to be delivered and ready to be deployed in the island later this year.
Providing an update during yesterday’s sitting of the States Assembly, Assistant Home Affairs Minister Richard Vibert described the equipment as “a new innovation which has proved successful in other areas”.
He made the comments while responding to a question from St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, who asked what progress had been made “on introducing the necessary
technology to provide 24/7 enforcement of speed limits” and any potential legislative changes that would be needed to deploy it.
The update comes just a few months after police chief Robin Smith revealed that a mobile speed camera was likely to be operational in Jersey in early 2025.
Constable Vibert said: “The procurement process for the safety camera has been complex, but production is now underway, with parts being manufactured in Australia and America and then assembled in Southampton.”
He continued: “The equipment is expected to be delivered in Jersey and to be ready for deployment later this year.
“It is important to note that the purpose of the safety cameras and the current States of Jersey police speed detection equipment is not for 24/7 enforcement, but rather to enhance road safety and respond to specific needs.
“I understand that the Road Traffic Jersey Law, as currently drafted, would allow for the operation of this new speed detection device. It is a new innovation which has proved successful in other areas.”
The equipment certainly will operate late at night and it will target those areas where we know this activity is undertaken
Assistant home affairs minister Richard vibert
However, Constable Vibert added that if 24/7 enforcement became necessary “then we will work with our colleague, the Minister for Infrastructure, to ensure that the law is sufficient to permit that activity”.
Constable Crowcroft noted that the island’s roads were used as a “speedway” by some drivers and asked “wouldn’t it make sense to send out the message that we will catch you whatever time of day you choose to go at whatever it is, 50, 60 miles an hour, around our island roads”.
Mr Vibert replied: “We should look at the success of the equipment that’s been introduced before we consider 24/7 enforcement.
“It’s targeted specifically at those drivers – I am not going into too many details about exactly how it operates because obviously that would give a clue to some of these drivers and they might try to avoid the detection devices.
“The equipment certainly will operate late at night and it will target those areas where we know this activity is undertaken.”