The West Midlands street where car number plates are being checked and the reason why

Police have been carrying out number plate checks on vehicles in an area where residents have raised concerns about 'speeding and dangerous driving'. West Midlands Police said it has conducted Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operations in Halesowen following concerns in Vicarage Road and Victoria Road.

Residents told BlackCountryLive how speeding was a daily concern on Vicarage Road with a number of recent 'near misses'. Gill Montroy, aged 66, said her son was left in a coma as a boy after being struck by a vehicle while her own car has been damaged by passing vehicles.

A petition signed by dozens of residents has called for action on the 'speeding issue' alongside concerns about 'open drug dealing'. ANPR technology allows officers to check number plates against a database and stop a vehicle if there are concerns. The occupants could also be arrested.

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Explaining the police approach to speeding in Halesowen, inspector Sarah Smyth, from Dudley Local Policing Area (LPA) said: "We take road safety incredibly seriously and work with communities and partners, including local councils, charities and the West Midlands Combined Authority to achieve safer roads for everyone. Our local neighbourhood teams have access to speed monitoring equipment and conduct speed operations in the area as well as regular community Speedwatches.

"Our proactive approach involves focused operations in key areas, tackling the fatal four which includes, speeding, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Where dangerous driving is observed, this can be reported directly to us on Op Snap, go to https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/operation-snap-driving-standards.
"We are also aware of residents’ concerns around anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in the area. In the last few months, officers have conducted ANPR operations, supported clean-up operations of open spaces, conducted stop and searches and gathered intelligence."

A force spokesperson added: "To get involved with a community Speedwatch then please contact your local neighbourhood team here https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/contact-us."