SCHOOL children challenged speeding drivers outside their academy as part of an innovative police operation.

Police officers decided they were tired of “ill-informed” comments they receive about handing drivers speeding fines.

To try to change public perception of their speeding operations, officers teamed up with pupils at Cherry Tree Academy, in Mersea Road, Blackheath, Colchester.

They celebrated the “future traffic officers” who helped them to catch those breaking the law.

A spokesman for the force said: “When we usually do a speeding operation, we are often met with hostility and get a lot of comments from the drivers.

“They can range from: ‘Haven’t you got anything better to do with your time than pick on innocent motorists?’ and ‘All those fines will go straight into the stations’ Christmas party fund’.

 

Slow down - pupils at Cherry Tree Academy got the chance to challenge speedy drivers Picture: Essex Police

Slow down - pupils at Cherry Tree Academy got the chance to challenge speedy drivers Picture: Essex Police

 

“These are just a few examples of the ill-informed and incorrect comments we get, so this time we thought we would try something different after we received complaints about speeding outside Cherry Tree Academy.

“We thought what could be more impactive than getting the children who are being put in danger by speeding to be the ones to speak to those caught speeding outside the school?”

As part of their innovative operation, school children and police officers together caught ten cars speeding on the road.

To help drive home the message about the dangers of speeding, the 12 pupils spoke to each driver and asked them why they thought it was acceptable to speed outside their school.

 

Slow down - pupils at Cherry Tree Academy got the chance to challenge speedy drivers Picture: Essex Police

Slow down - pupils at Cherry Tree Academy got the chance to challenge speedy drivers Picture: Essex Police

 

The police spokesman continued: “All the drivers spoken to were suitably educated and only when the children agreed they had learned their lesson and shouldn’t get a ticket were they sent on their way.

“It’s also important to note all the drivers were extremely polite to the children and said the children had made an impact on how they would drive in the future.

“Not only did the motorists learn valuable life lessons, the children were taught to use our speed cameras, basic radio procedure and the importance of road safety.

“I think it’s fair to say we may have recruited some future traffic officers.”