A speed camera operated by a Suffolk police safety enforcement officer was deployed in Shotley today.

The hand held camera was being used by an officer stood on the pavement outside the village hall, after being set up around midday, was directed at traffic coming along the Street.

Police and councillors have received a number of complaints regarding inconsiderate motorists along the B1456, either speeding or making excessive noise, with Shotley seemingly suffering a hike in offences recently.

Extra speed bumps have been installed at King Edward VII Avenue, owned by Shotley marina, following noise complaints. Other measures regarding the traffic nuisance are being considered by Suffolk County Council and local groups.

A car, which struck and destroyed a lamp post at the bottom of Bristol Hill was found abandoned by police and Erwarton and fears of further accidents have been aired by locals in Shotley.

"While I welcome a Suffolk Police Safety Camera operative being in Shotley I'm not sure it is addressing the nub of the issue," said Babergh district councillor. "It is good to see the police are listening to residents' concerns but perhaps the timing of an officer's presence needs to be looked at.

"That said, I hope people who do speed, or whose vehicles make excessive noise, realise this will not be tolerated in Shotley, or indeed anywhere else on the peninsula. Action is being taken."

Suffolk SafeCam operates a number of mobile enforcement vehicles, which are deployed across the county of Suffolk.

Since its introduction in 2003, the Suffolk Safety Camera operation has contributed to the reduction of road casualties and collisions throughout the county.

Proactive speed enforcement only takes place in Suffolk at locations or stretches of road where there is an on-going risk of collisions, based on collision data at each site over the past five years – or where there have been substantiated complaints from local people.

As well as mobile enforcement vehicles, Suffolk has two operational fixed camera sites - on the A140 at Coddenham and A12 at Benhall – which protect cross-over junctions on two busy stretches of road.

Locations where proactive speed enforcement takes place will be reviewed regularly by senior officers and are displayed weekly at www.suffolk.police.uk

The Community Enforcement Officer's role will be to visit those more rural locations across Suffolk where data has shown there are accident or speeding issues – the aim of the officer is to prevent speeding by enforcement – thus making the roads safer.

Requests for the officer/van will be taken to a monthly tasking group where deployment is decided upon by priority – based on data and or specific requests from local parish communities.

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