Following the appalling delays on the transport network and the huge cost to the regional economy last week, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has written to the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin MP to call on him to ensure greater co-ordination going forward.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said,
“Any death on our roads is a tragic loss of life.
“Last week the West Midlands was hit by huge delays on the transport network which will have cost the regional economy millions of pounds.
“This letter is not a criticism of individual agencies who all work very hard, but is a call for greater co-ordination to ensure that we are all being as effective as possible when dealing with crashes on our roads.”
Letter to the Transport Secretary:
Dear Patrick,
I was a sorry to note from local media that you were caught up in the protracted tailbacks that ensued from the tragic and fatal crash on the M6 northbound that had occurred earlier in the day.
As always our essential services acted with true professionalism in helping the injured and getting the motorway surface repaired.
However, as a matter of urgency, I have asked the Central Motorway Policing Group to provide me with a detailed report of how the police tackled the incident to see if anything could have been done differently to alleviate the congestion caused.
It is totally unsatisfactory that a vital part of the nation’s infrastructure should be congested for such a significant amount of time. It is clear that there are wider issues. Not only do prolonged tailbacks on our motorways cause serious inconvenience to motorists, and significant damage to the local/national economy, there are also health hazards associated with people being kept in a confined, cold spaces for long periods of time.
I want to explore with some urgency how the police, Highways England and local authorities can handle major incidents more effectively.
I would appreciate a meeting with yourself or the appropriate minister, to discuss the linkages between the highways and the police at the earliest opportunity.
Yours sincerely,
David Jamieson
Police and Crime Commissioner
