I am Chair of the county Police & Crime Panel...it's no big deal, and yet it is. The Panel hold the Police & Crime Commissioner to account...in the main confirming that he has metaphorical grip on the Police Chief Constable and force performance and how the PCC conducts the '& Crime' part of his role - working with partner agencies across criminal justice and public safety initiatives. It also means that we have to have an active dialogue - being prepared to have professional and sometimes challenging conversations so that the Panel (mainly elected representatives of three local authorities) can act as critical friends...and where necessary 'join the dots'... In a conversation I had this afternoon with Festus Akinbusoye PCC we discussed Speedwatch and how it might work best. Volunteers collect data and share it with the police, and persistent offenders get letters from the police about the manner (speed) of their driving....and that's it. Speedwatch knock off for the day and anyone 'out there' can worry not about a little bit of excess speed, because we are all in a hurry to get somewhere, right. I asked and the PCC has found out; is the information collected - the generic information (20 cars X mph over limit between Y times at a specific location) - shared with the local authorities so that Highway Departments might consider strategies/designs that will keep people to the legal limit 'all the time' - by putting up speed reminders, changing road design, fixed cameras/average speed cameras, humps bumps, whatever. Both the PCC and I were amazed that the info collected by volunteers was not used in any other lawful way that might slow drivers down (to the signed speed limits imposed) and prevent accidents/incidents in 'hot spots'. The PCC to his credit has made enquiries and the info will be shared now...thus adding value to speedwatchers volunteering time and efforts...and potentially doing them out of a job because with the right measures, road design, architecture, signage perhaps, just, perhaps drivers in towns and villages effected might just keep their foot just a little off the right hand pedal...