In areas where the Police work with CSW Online and allow the use of handheld speed detection devices, the CSW certified devices prevent the nullification of observed records caused by a lack of proof to objections coming from drivers who indisputably have been speeding. The more records processed; the more objections will be received. This is an unwanted and unnecessary time-consuming exercise for the police. To counter it, an objection system operates within the online platform to facilitate the automatic processing of these claims. Collated, relevant data is compiled to create an audit trail that follows every single offence record. If there is enough data and evidence to prove that the observation can be considered correct, the objection will be logged but rejected, and the observed record will be upheld. If not, the objection will be forwarded to the police for manual investigation. The automated processing delivers the results to the objecting driver instantly but also allows access to appeal if additional information can be produced. To be able to facilitate all of this, one of the key factors is that the proof of the accuracy (+/- 1MPH) of the device at the point of measuring the offence was established. To do this, the group needs all the checking procedures associated with a properly certified device firmly secured.

If groups acquire devices directly from unidentified, opportunistic traders on the internet, specifically the Bushnell Velocity 101911, they cannot register the device on the platform on par with certified devices, and they run the very real risk that objections to their observations by speeding drivers will be upheld. They will be wasting their time and a perfect opportunity to identify the very offenders they are aiming to stop speeding.

By acquiring a device without proof of conformity and accuracy measures in place, groups will face the problem of 1) not receiving the one-year guarantee, 2) a lack of Certificate of Conformity, 3) no presence of a serial number to identify the device, and 4) no provision of the uniquely numbered tuning fork with accuracy certification needed to prove the device’s ID and error margin before every session. The serial number (ID) follows the data throughout the process and guarantees that the uniquely numbered and third-party checked device was used to measure the speed at that given time. It also establishes the purchase date of the device to secure replacement within one year to prevent continued use of inaccurate or faulty devices.

The set of laminated certificates also provide groups with proof at the roadside when drivers stop to contest the accuracy and validity of their observations.

When groups acquire unregistered devices, all these automated processes, checks and balances become obsolete. And if a device fails to operate correctly, the chances that the error is discovered – or the device can be replaced under guarantee, are not only non-existent but will also eventually cause considerable headache for the police when needing to recall unsafe offence responses.

Certified devices can be acquired here: https://speedwatch.shop

The Police or local Councils protect groups trained and operating to the required standard and from approved sites under their Public Liability Insurance cover.

To guard against aggressive drivers, at least one operator on the deployed team must bring a mobile phone in case it becomes necessary to alert the Police. 999 is the number to call.

Luckily, aggressive behaviour directed towards CSW operators is an extremely rare phenomenon. CSW Online are only aware of one near-assault case. The offender was arrested, charged and swiftly dealt with by the Court of law.

Many Police Forces, Road Safety organisations or Local Councils purchase and own equipment that they make available through the online booking system for local groups to use.

Groups or councils can purchase their own speed detection devices, either separately or shared with other groups in the vicinity. In Sussex, for example, purchasing of registered and approved speed detection devices can only be done through Police CSW approved channels.

The acquisition of Police approved devices must be kept under strict control as accuracy and conformity are necessary to retain the validity of each observed offence's audit trail.

Look in the Online Shop for more details.

Wearing Hi-vis vests or jackets is compulsory. However, there exist currently no uniform rules specifying the markings or text on the clothing.

Hi-vis vests, executive and bomber jackets, etc., with the national CSW logo and the blue reflective panel on the back, are available from the Speedwatch Shop.

CSW Online are promoting the idea of a uniform look as well as national standards applicable to all CSW activity and Police coordination/response/involvement.

Training to become an approved CSW Operator starts already during the registration process. Before a new volunteer's details are passed on to either the Police or the coordinator of the group they apply to join, every new operator must first take the compulsory eLearning course and pass a multiple choice Quiz at the end.

The course consists of five 3-5 minutes long videos explaining rules governing Health & Safety, Code of Conduct and Roadside Procedures. The course can be finished in approximately 30 minutes and retaken as many times as are needed. Afterwards, the successful applicants are issued with a Certificate downloadable from the Training Section once logged in to their account.

After successful authorisation, all new operators must be trained in the practical use of the group's deployable equipment. Some groups have their own equipment (or range of equipment), others book speed detection devices made available to them by either the Police or a local Council.

A group's founding coordinator is trained by the Police. Training of the group's other coordinators and operators is then cascaded to any trained coordinator.

Practical training is usually done in conjunction with a roadside session where new volunteers are given instructions and an opportunity to operate the deployed equipment.

The police require your personal details to ensure their third-party insurance cover protects you when you are carrying out Speedwatch. Therefore, your name and contact details are always available to your local Force, but who sees this is dependent on the seniority of the Officer viewing.

The only other way CSW Online will provide your details would be due to a court order, or Government legislation requiring us to transfer your details.

Should there ever be a legitimate reason to share your details with any other relevant additional service, your consent will always be asked for and secured before this is done.

CSW Online is an ICO registered organisation, and we adhere strictly to the Data Protection legislation as set out by the Government.

Dependent on the participating Police Force, various models are applied to accommodate Police interaction with Speedwatch groups.

Some counties use Safer Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT, SNT, etc.) to support and communicate with the groups, others have dedicated CSW Teams working in partnership with e.g. local Road Safety Partnerships; and others again work in tandem with Special Constable Teams.

When Police Constables and Special Constables are present in support of CSW groups, offending drivers are often stopped and issued with an on-the-spot fine and points, or as an alternative offered to attend a training course.

When you begin the registration process, you are asked whether to join an existing group or create a new group. Always, first check if a group already operates in your area. You do this by following the 'Join Existing Group' wizard. When asked to identify an existing group, follow the dropdown lists to zero in on your specific area (county, district and town) and from the list of existing groups check whether one is to be found near where you live. If one exists, click on the group to complete the 'Join Existing Group' wizard. If none exists, return to the beginning of the registration process and follow the 'Create New Group' wizard to register a group in your own area. Please bear in mind that if you register a new group, you will automatically become the group's first Coordinator. You can later hand this responsibility to other trained group members if they wish to take on the job.

To register a BASIC group, you follow the same procedure as you would in an area already managed by CSW Online. Since the area has no active Police connection, the choice you have is only BASIC group registration. Please follow the instructions in this Guide.

If you have found that there is no group registered in your area, setting up a new group is the only way forward. However, be advised that the person who registers the group automatically becomes its first coordinator with the initial responsibility of setting up the group. To familiarise yourself with the procedures, please read this Guide to set up a New Group .

If you want to resign your account and have all your details deleted, you need to log in to your account. Once logged in, navigate to My Details, and click on Edit My details. At the bottom of that page is a button saying: I Wish To Resign From Speedwatch. Click on it and confirm your intention in the popup window. This will remove you from the the group, the scheme and delete all your details. If you wish to join the scheme again later, you will need to sign up anew, including pass the online training.

Newly approved and established groups can propose new sites for use subject to safety approval. Proposing new sites is done by Group Coordinators through the 'Site Wizard'. A 'Site' is defined as a combination of 'a location' and 'a direction'. Some locations are not suited for observation in both direction and consequently only have one site. A new site must adhere to the following criteria:

a) Potential sites MUST be within the area the group intends to operate.
b) There must be a clear line of sight of at least 100 metres to the approaching or leaving vehicles in the intended observed direction.
c) The site must have a safe area of at least 2.5 metres from the edge of the road to allow pedestrian room to pass deployed operators without the need to step into the road.
d) CSW activity is not blocking entrance to - or exit from affected properties.
e) If a proposed site is situated on private land, the owner MUST give their express permission to the use of their land for the purpose of CSW activity.
f) CSW operators and their activity is clearly visible to drivers of approaching vehicles.

When looking at new possible sites, please bear in mind that the following criteria DISQUALIFY a site:

a) Site is not in 20mph, 30mph or 40mph speed limit zone.
b) Vehicles cannot be recorded within 200 meters of the start, end or change in speed limit.
c) Site is within a newly introduced or revised speed limit (within one year).
d) Site is within a speed limit which has 'Project' status.
e) Site is preceded by Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS).
f) Site within the confines of an area which has a number of identifiable traffic calming measures.
g) Site identified or located within 1.5 km of a mobile camera or static camera enforcement site on the same road.

From time to time, we move or simply get a new email address. To change or update your details go to [My Details] then [Edit my Details] change the email address or amend other new details and press [Update].

If you have changed your email address, remember to use this new address next time you log in.

CSW groups operate from safety approved sites only. This is to guarantee that both groups and other road users are safe during roadside sessions. Occasionally drivers stop and ask about the scheme's or group's legitimacy, the precision of the equipment, or what the consequence or purpose of the group's activity is.

Most Police Forces offer groups a 'Letter to Irate Drivers' signed by the Head of the Department responsible the for Speedwatch scheme. Without going in to an argument with people, operators are advised to hand this letter to especially confrontational drivers. This letter is available to download from the Documents Library and is most often enough to deflect any escalating situation.

The CSW Online system also offer Emergency Dispatch Rooms an overview of all deployed teams in their area with all contact details, position, times, etc. If an emergency call is needed, Police Forces making use of this service will have all information at hand immediately.

Training video explaining how best to manage a confrontational situation is also available in the Training Section.

If you have lost your password, please go to the Home Page and click on the 'Login' tab. Enter your email address and click on the 'Lost Password' button.

An email will be sent to your email account with instructions of how to reset your password.

If you are not receiving the reset message, please check the spelling of your email address. Correct any mistakes and try again. If the problem persists, please contact CSW Online Support by clicking on the 'Contact us' tab.

Groups need to be registered on the system to gain access to the CSW Online Shop. Dependent on the relevant County's Police Speed Policy dictating the rules for allowable use of equipment, groups have access to purchase equipment from the shop that fit these local conditions. Some counties allow handheld devices whereas others only allow tripod mounted Speed Indicator Displays (SID).

Prices for speed detection equipment ranges from £300 - £3500 dependent on functionality, display and measuring distance.

Before groups can be approved in an area covered by the CSW Online service, a local Police Officer needs to establish whether the proposing Coordinator is proper and fit for the position, and that the motives for their involvement are aligned with those of the Police and affected community.

It is also entirely at the Police's discretion to decide whether a group is necessary, desired and will be of assistance in addressing the problem of speeding effectively. Safety issues are of the utmost concern - both to the operators but also to other road users.

Occasionally, speeding is a perceived problem and to determine whether an area has a genuine speeding problem, a comprehensive speed survey might be necessary before a CSW group is approved. New groups need to register online before the evaluation process can be initiated.

A BASIC group is a Speedwatch group registered and operating in an area where the local Police have yet to sign up to the CSW Online service.

Concerned communities in those areas can register BASIC groups to experience how the management platform works.

Accumulation of groups in unaffiliated areas serves to demonstrate to local authorities that the problem of speeding needs addressing.

The most used equipment is based on radar technology and although approved for use in the UK, they do not necessarily figure on the list of Home Office approved devices.

Home Office approval refers to equipment used for enforcement only. Devices in this category mostly use laser technology and require an annual calibration certificate as proof of accuracy when offence records obtained with this equipment is presented in court as evidence.

For as long as Speedwatch remains an educational scheme, annual calibration is not required in most counties. However, regular accuracy checks of radar devices using accompanying, certified, and uniquely numbered tuning forks registered on the CSW Online system is compulsory in most police force areas. When tested before each session, an accuracy within +/- 1MPH is required before the offence recording can begin.