The Traffic Operational Command Unit (CO15) is a Central Operations branch of the London Metropolitan Police Service. The unit is responsible for policing of the roads, such as the London road network. It has been in existence since 1930, when motor traffic patrols were set up at police stations. The early patrols were soon nicknamed 'Courtesy Cops' as they educated the public about the then new road traffic act.
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The Met's traffic officers are specialists in road traffic matters, including vehicle examination, driver documentation, collision investigation and hazardous materials. They have responsibility for the investigation of Fatal and the initial stages of Life Changing Road Traffic Collisions Within the MPD. [1] Sergeants, known as Garage Sergeants are also responsible for the investigation of all injury collisions and damage only collisions that occur outside police premises involving police vehicles. They also download the 'black box' incident data recorders that are fitted to all police vehicles, except motorcycles.
Traffic Officers maintain the free running of strategic trunk roads and motorways falling within the MPD. They work in partnership with the Highways Agency. This includes all the 'A' (trunk) roads and small sections of the M1, M4, M11 and the M25 motorways.
The stated aims are to:
* Deny criminals use of the roads by enforcing the law * Reduce road casualties * Tackle the threat of terrorism * Reduce anti-social use of the roads * Enhance public confidence and reassurance by patrolling the roads * Attend and investigate all fatal collisions
Using intelligence led operations they intend to use a combination of enforcement and education to focus on issues such as:
* Antisocial and criminal use of vehicles on the roads * Drink and Drug driving * Speeding * Seizing uninsured and unlicensed vehicles * Motorcycle, moped and scooter safety * Commercial vehicles and the transportation of hazardous materials * Un-roadworthy and dangerous vehicles * Road safety at schools
Now, its officers work from one of five traffic garages. These garages hold three departments. Response officers respond to serious traffic collisions and enforce road traffic law in accordance with the aims of the unit. Tasking teams are directed to deal with specific traffic and crime problems. The Road Death Investigation Unit have specialist officers, both civilian staff and Police Officers who examine scenes of serious or fatal road traffic collisions and investigate fatal collisions.
The North East Garage is located in Chadwell Heath. The Metropolitan Police Service uses the code of TDJ to identify the location. The premises is shared with the Territorial Support Group. Officers have the geographic responsibility for the boroughs of the Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Enfield.
The South East Garage is located in Catford. The Metropolitan Police Service uses the code of TDP to identify the location. The premises is shared with the Territorial Support Group and the Dog Section. Officers have the geographic responsibility for the boroughs of the Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Bromley and Croydon. Since the closure of the Central Garage officers from this garage also provide a traffic response to the Lambeth.
The South West area is divided into two garages, one is located on an industrial estate in Merton which is shared with the Dog Section. The second location is at Hampton. This also houses the traffic training unit. The Metropolitan Police Service uses the code of TDV (for Merton) and TDT (for Hampton) to identify the location. The geographic responsibilities of the two garages are the London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth, Hounslow, Richmond Upon Thames, Kingston Upon Thames, Merton and Sutton.
As of 2011 the Central area is now covered by the South West Garages. This includes pretty much the whole of Westminster, Belgravia, Kensington and Chelsea, as well as Soho and anything that is deemed as Central London.
The North West Garage is located on an industrial estate in Alperton and the Metropolitan Police Service uses the code TDQ to identify the location. The geographic responsibilities of the officers from this garage are the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, London Borough of Haringey and Hillingdon.
The Central Garage was located in Euston. The Metropolitan Police Service used the code of TDC to identify the location. Officers had the geographic responsibility for the boroughs of the City of Westminster, Camden, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea. In the summer of 2010 it was announced that this garage would close due to cost cutting. Officers were invited to move to one of the remaining five garages. The garage closed in March 2011.
The Central area is now policed by the South West Unit. This, along with most cost cutting, has caused issues, mainly the time taken to get there amongst heavy traffic, as well as the time taken to get back to base at the end of the shift as well as the next shift being able to return there and cover the area. It is common that "Central" is unpoliced for around 4 to 6 hours daily whilst crews try to return at the end of a shift and de kit / de brief, followed by the next crew kitting up and briefing.
There are now around 680 Police Officers and over 130 civilian Police Support Staff employed within the department along with a small number of Special Constables. The Police Officers and Special Constables can be easily recognised by the white covers worn over their uniform caps and shoulder numbers beginning with the letters 'TD'.
Officers patrol in the BMW 5 Series 530/535d tourer along with the Mitsubishi Shogun which is used primarily for towing. The Volvo V70 has been added to the fleet. The cars and 4x4's are fitted with mobile data terminals, with access to the Police National Computer. They are also fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to the front and rear. In addition the front-facing camera permanently records to video tape. The motorcycles used are a fleet of BMW motorcycles. The most common motorcycle used is the BMW 1200RTP although some older 1100cc and 600cc models remain.
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