Police accused of caving in over speed cameras

A senior police officer was criticised yesterday for suggesting that forces should make speed cameras "bright and visible" to motorists.

Ken Williams, Chief Constable of Norfolk Police, said there should be more openness about the location of the cameras. His comments follow complaints over plans to triple the number of people fined for speeding.

Lynn Sloman of the pressure group Transport 2000 blamed the police for caving in to public "backlash". She said: "The police and the Government are running scared of the lobby that says speed cameras are anti-democratic."

Bernard Jenkin, a Tory Transport spokesman, called for fewer cameras. He said they should be used "to cut accidents ... not to raise money".