Traffic

Traffic Departments

Collision Investigation

The Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) investigates collisions resulting in death and provides expert support for many serious injury collisions. The scene of a collision is treated in the same way as any other serious crime. Forensic evidence is collected at the scene in order to connect those involved in the collision to any vehicles involved, establish the cause and bring the investigation to a satisfactory conclusion. Other evidence is collected such as footage from CCTV cameras overlooking the collision scene, witness statements and by sending out witness appeals through the media.

Family Liaison

The CIU provides trained Family Liaison Officers when investigating fatal collisions. Family Liaison Officers act as the link between the victim’s next of kin and the investigating team to ensure they are kept up-to-date with the investigation. They gather information from the family and friends in order to gain further evidence.

Motorcycle Tasking Team

Is a team of Traffic Officers dedicated to improving motorcycle safety. They carry out numerous targeted operations aimed at enforcing motorcycle legislation and reducing motorcycle casualties. The team are the key element to BikeSafe-London, which is run in partnership with Transport for London and City of London Police. With over 13,000 attendees in five years, the initiative invites motorcyclists, moped and scooter riders to participate in Rider Skills Days that offer assessment on present skills and advice to help make their riding in London safer and more enjoyable. Visit www.bikesafelondon.co.uk and www.scootersafe-london.co.uk for more information or call 020 8733 4679.

Road Crime Intelligence Unit

The Road Crime Intelligence Unit ensures Traffic Officers are deployed to areas known to have a higher number of traffic related problems. The unit gathers information that helps create effective operations across the capital to deny criminals the use of the roads and reduce the number of people involved in road traffic collisions.

ANPR Team

The ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Team currently consists of four units working across London. Each ANPR unit has access to a van containing the computer technology and camera equipment that, when it reads the vehicle registration mark (VRM) converts the image in to data which is then compared against databases - such as the Police National Computer. If a match (hit) occurs then the officers attached to the unit will take appropriate action. The ANPR unit's key objective is to deny criminals the use of the roads and the teams are available for deployment across the Met to assist local officers in targeting their criminal hot-spots. ANPR is gaining a reputation for being technology that fights crime.

Police Staff

Over one hundred Police Staff work in the Traffic Unit supporting operations and driving strategies and policy. Responsible for roles in Information Management, Control Room, Finance, Resources, Media and Communications, Human Resources, Garage Support, Collision Investigation, ANPR and Administration, Police Staff are an essential part of the unit.

Traffic Management Unit

Traffic Management Officers (TMOs) are the Met's link with local councils, Road Safety Officers, road engineers, utility companies, local buses and TfL to ensure that any road works and road improvements are designed and carried out safely and with as little disruption as possible.

The officers work with the Met's Safer Neighbourhoods Teams and provide advice on traffic issues such as road safety, road design, speeding and defective signs or damaged roadway. They provide solutions for traffic problems identified by communities and are able to arrange for speed surveys or enforcement at a location of concern to address these issues.

They also give talks to groups such as schools, youth clubs and businesses on road safety or issues such as drink/drug driving and work related road risk.

Commercial Vehicle Unit

Five of the Traffic Garages have an individual unit covering the commercial side of transport, both freight (Large Goods Vehicles - LGVs) and people (Public Service Vehicles – PSVs - such as buses and coaches). The staff complete roadside checks of vehicles and drivers to identify offences such as incorrect licenses and training, unroadworthy vehicles and driving over the legal driving hours. The unit regularly works in partnership with other government departments such as VOSA, DVLA and the Environment Agency. The staff also attend the scenes of serious collisions involving LGVs or PSVs to assist with their specialist knowledge, alongside the Collision Investigation Unit.

Commercial Vehicle Education Unit (CVEU)

A newly formed unit, the CVEU works in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) in addressing a reduction in the number of incidents involving LGVs within London. The staff deal with both drivers and companies from the freight industry that have committed offences or have been involved in collisions. Once the initial investigation is complete, the company is referred to the TfL Freight Unit who can offer advice and details of independent companies who can assist the individual in improving their standards in line with the 'Freight Operators Recognition Scheme'.

Abnormal Loads

Under the 'Construction & Use and Special Types legislation', haulage companies are required to notify their intention to move abnormal indivisible loads to the Chief Officer of Police for the area they are intending to travel through. The unit receives abnormal load notifications from the haulage industry and, following a comprehensive checking procedure to ensure that the proposed routes are negotiable (allowing for height, weight & width restrictions), issues permits of authorisation. The unit arranges for police escorts as necessary providing the escorting officers with comprehensive route details.

If you are a haulier and are planning to bring an abnormal load into the London area, please complete and send the required form of notice

Traffic MSC Officers

Ten special constables work out of the traffic garages, supporting local Safer Neighbourhood Teams on their traffic related problems. These constable are fully trained in the use of speed detection devices, traffic law and working on fast roads.

Roads Policing Policy Unit

The work of the unit involves researching, consulting, reviewing and implementing roads policing issues and providing expertise and support to colleagues in several important areas. These include drink and drug driving, police driving regulations and traffic law. Recent high profile projects include the introduction of incident data recorders in police vehicles, roadside testing for drug drivers, a new Vehicle Pursuit Policy and the MPS 'Safe Driving Policy'.

Police Driving Standards Unit

This unit is responsible for overseeing and quality assuring the investigation of all collisions involving Metropolitan Police vehicles, and identifying ways to further reduce collision rates. A variety of investigation methods are used including scientific scene reconstruction and the analysis of data provided by incident data recorders and mobile data terminals fitted in police vehicles. A database collates statistics and helps to identify causes and trends of collisions.

Traffic Control

London's traffic and transport network is run by the Met's biggest and busiest joint control room - MetroComm. The 52 staff work to deploy Traffic units efficiently and quickly to incidents across the capital.

They have access to CCTV cameras, advanced mapping systems, vehicle tracking and the Computer Aided Despatch system, which combined ensure that all relevant information is instantly available and up to date.

Two motorway control rooms work in conjunction with the Highways Agency to provide a rapid response to any incident on London’s motorways. These are based at the Blackwall Tunnel and Heston Services and have a total combined staff of 26.