Public Servant Lifestyle

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) staff are being accredited with the powers to stop vehicles for roadside checks.

This is a huge move for VOSA and is sure to ease the pressure on police - as well as helping crack down on un-roadworthy vehicles and illegal road-users. These VOSA ‘stoppers’ are being trained by the Police to ensure public safety as well as their own safety and effectiveness.

Huge Move

Northumbria Police is the first force in the country to give officers from VOSA a new power - the authority to stop goods and passenger vehicles for spot-checks. This will free Police officers to focus on reducing crime and disorder as well as injuries on the road.

In the past, Police officers always had to be present during the spot-checks as only they had the authority to stop the vehicles.

Northumbria Police is one of only six forces in the country to take part in the pilot scheme and the first to put it into action.

Chief Inspector Neil Minto, of Motor Patrols, said: "The previous method of working was not an efficient use of police time and also meant VOSA staff had to depend on the availability of our officers. This new agreement now means Motor Patrols officers no longer need to be with them but instead can concentrate on their core policing duties of casualty reduction and tackling crime and disorder."

The Police Reform Act (2002) allows Chief Constables to accredit VOSA staff with the power to stop goods and passenger vehicles. The other forces taking part in the pilot scheme are Cambridgeshire, North Wales, Metropolitan, Greater Manchester, and Staffordshire.

Hugh Edwards, Product, Policy and Strategy Director for VOSA, said "We welcome these new powers. Northumbria are the first force to accredit VOSA officers which will allow us to be more effective in targeting unsafe commercial vehicles and drivers for enforcement action."

Ford Galaxies

VOSA officers will operate using distinctly liveried Ford Galaxies with yellow and black ‘battenburg’ style side markings, yellow and orange chevrons at the rear and a roof bar with amber lights and variable matrix signing. They have been trained in driving and stopping vehicles by North Wales Police and approved by Northumbria Police's driver training section. In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office and the trade associations have supported the accreditation of VOSA staff.

VOSA was formed in April 2003 from the merger of the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network division of the Department for Transport (DfT).

VOSA forms part of the Driver, Vehicle, Operator Group of the DOT and is responsible for:

More information available in On The Road