FOI 180921
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 180921
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 24th June 2022. Please find below the response to your request:
Please can you provide information on where and when any Close pass sessions have been run in Shrewsbury since 2018 I would be grateful if the information could include eyesight tests, Mobile phone use, drink and drug driving, warnings given and arrests or charges.
Reply
West Mercia Police holds part of the information you have requested
The Close Pass initiative is run in two different ways within West Mercia. We have a number of sets of bike cameras across the force that are used by officers and PCSO’s as part of their daily duties and on parts of their own commutes for those officers that cycle. We also have members of the public who regularly submit Close Pass footage through Operation Snap (the online public reporting tool for those that have video evidence of an offence).
We find that mixing these two approaches is a lot more effective than having a specific operation with an officer cycling an identified route and marked vehicles. For this reason we are unable to answer your question around eye sight tests etc as this does not form part of our operation. With Operation Snap the message is clear, your driving behaviour can be witnessed and recorded anywhere.
Close Pass offences that have been submitted from the Shrewsbury area and dealt with by either warning letter or prosecution are as follows;
2021
51 Recorded Close pass offences submitted
2022 – to date
64 Recorded Close pass offences submitted