You wait all day to spot a police officer, then three come along at once.
In a new crime-fighting initiative, a team of police in Plymouth commandeered a double-decker bus to catch drivers using mobile phones. The top deck provided a perfect vantage point to peer into cars.
In what is thought to be the first scheme of its kind in the country, officers from Devon and Cornwall Police spent two days being driven around Plymouth in a bus.
They identified motorists committing moving traffic offences then radioed colleagues standing by in patrol cars, unmarked vehicles and on motorbikes, who pulled over the drivers.
The weekend operation resulted in 39 motorists being caught using a mobile phone and 36 not wearing a seatbelt. One Range Rover driver was observed using his mobile phone while stationary in traffic, while another spent 10 seconds texting.
It is illegal to use a handheld mobile phone when driving, even if stopped at traffic lights or in a non-moving queue. Since March 1, the penalty has doubled to a £200 fine with a six-point endorsement.
PC Andy Llewellyn of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “The double-decker bus is great to catch people looking down on their laps using phones.
“This is a great example of how we can maximise policing resources by working closely with partner organisations in the community.
“Careless and inconsiderate driving is something that people may not recognise as a fatal factor. In Plymouth and across the force area we are looking to address this and the other driving behaviours to improve road safety awareness.”
The force plans to repeat the exercise, which has the backing of the bus company. A spokesman for Citybus said: “It has been very successful and we support any police initiative that addresses personal safety.
“Our drivers report back on a regular basis to say they see people on their mobile phones while driving. It’s something we are fully aware of.”
The force has been subject to unwelcome publicity in recent weeks.
Last month, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constables criticised Devon and Cornwall Police for failing to record major crimes properly under an “inadequate” system.
At the same time, the ‘poster girl’ for the force, Laura Beal, quit and made her damning resignation letter public on Facebook.
Ms Beal, whose face appeared on police posters and on the cover of the force’s annual report, said she had been left suffering from anxiety, depression and stress.
She has now opened a dog grooming business, explaining that she “would rather take the massive pay cut and quit than spend one day longer in a job that is making me ill”.
According to figures published by Devon and Cornwall Police for the 12 months to February 2017, home burglaries for the area were up 15 per cent year on year, and robbery up 12.1 per cent.
The force was also criticised in November after officers were found to be calling the non-emergency 101 line requesting internal telephone numbers, rather than looking them up for themselves.
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