Monday 20 June 2011

Speed Awareness Courses (2)

Following my earlier email on this subject an interesting discovery was made today, using the back of a fag packet.

Attendees were 25 and the centre at Upper Heyford usually runs two courses per day - sometimes four - six days a week.

25 people at £95.00 is £2,375.00 per course; two courses therefore £4,750.00; six days a week is £28,500; 4 week month is £114,000.00; so 4 weeks times 13 results in a yearly income of £1,482,000.00.

We were informed that Thames Valley Police have four such centres - which incidentally are run by AA Drivetech - providing Speed Awareness Courses and heaven knows how many such centres other police forces operate.

Ok, so they have instructors and office staff/space to pay for - but one has to wonder where the balance of the income goes? Maybe to ACPO, whose brain-child this scheme was?

Just asking......................

7 comments:

A K Haart said...

"Ok, so they have instructors and office staff/space to pay for"

Maybe it doesn't matter about that. Almost anything self-funding is seen as desirable these days - it's so rare.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

AKH: Unless I misunderstand your comment or possibly your irony, for the first time you seem to have lost me.....

Self-funding? Seems to me that is one damn big profit for someone.....?

The Englishman said...

Some time ago the penny dropped for me:

http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/003301.html

Why does the Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership offer Speed Awareness Workshops as an alternative to a fine and points?

Official Answer: Because they just want people to drive safer and the money isn't a factor.

Unofficial Answer: Britain's speed camera system is run by more than 40 regional road safety partnerships, made up of representatives from police, courts and councils.

The partnerships are funded by the Department of Transport, which demands that each region gives target figures for the number of motorists they plan to catch speeding over the next year. If these targets are not met, then Whitehall cuts the size of its funding.

This has the effect of making the local partnership set low targets, rather than risk losing cash by falling short of predictions. And that is good news for the Government, since the system is geared so that any extra fines go to the Treasury.

But as the Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership knows they are going to catch more motorists than their quota the local unit has no interest in sending those "extra" fines to Gordon. But if they run a workshop then the motorist doesn't pay a fine, he pays the Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership who get to keep the money, apart from having to rent a cheap room and whiteboard...

No that is silly - I must keep repeating the "Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership are not interested in the money..."

WitteringsfromWitney said...

TE: Yup, I was aware of where the money goes actually, my question was by nature rhetorical..... :)

Also agree re your need to keep repeating the mantra you suggest - or you may get that 4am early alarm call....!

Mark Wadsworth said...

I'll go with what The E says, that seems like the most plausible explanation.

Woodsy42 said...

Once again the word 'scam' springs to mind doesn't it?

WitteringsfromWitney said...

MW: As I said to TE.........

W42: With capital letters.......