Former Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell (pictured) has attacked a decision by the Metropolitan Police that will see the disbanding of its Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU), which she calls a “world-class” enforcement arm.
In a latter to Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley protesting the move, Ms Bell describes the unit as a key contributor to road safety in London via its wide-ranging powers. “I know I speak for others when I say the industry just cannot comprehend your decision,” she tells Sir Mark.
Ms Bell – who is now a transport law consultant – is calling upon him to reverse the change. The move to disband has created “dismay” among legitimate and compliant operators in the coach, bus and HGV sectors, she continues.
Disbanding of the Commercial Vehicle Unit is expected to take place in February, according to a Freedom of Information response by the Metropolitan Police.
In that, the force notes how its Roads and Transport Policing Command is “undergoing a significant change programme” and that the transition “reflects both the negotiations of a new service agreement with our partners and the strategic requirements outlined in the Commissioner’s New Met for London programme.”
Certain functions undertaken by the CVU are expected to be folded into a new Road Danger Reduction Team. The CVU has been described as Europe’s largest commercial vehicle policing unit and is funded by Transport for London.
In her letter, Ms Bell says that such a funding structure means that the decision to disband cannot be driven by Metropolitan Police finances and nor can it be driven by the unit’s effectiveness, “as its statistics prove its success.”
She adds that the CVU has long demonstrated strong engagement with and education of the commercial vehicle industry and that disbanding it is “a huge mistake that will result in road safety being compromised.”
The former Senior TC believes that once the CVU is gone, “innocent people will be killed and seriously injured as non-compliant operators will know [that] they will be highly likely to get away with not fulfilling their obligations.”
Ms Bell says that there is a large strength of feeling within the commercial vehicle industry against the disbanding. “Everybody knows that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. But you can change your mind – and that will be seen as a sign of strength… and the compliant industry will thank you for it,” she urges Sir Mark.
The letter is copied to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander alongside other senior figures in road transport, including leaders of trade bodies the Confederation of Passenger Transport and RHA. Ms Bell hopes to meet with Sir Mark or one of his deputies to discuss the matter further.
