Ref. 31118-64A MOTORBIKE-mounted police camera is detecting 50 speeders a day in Wiltshire. The 650cc Honda Deauville was bought with money from the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership, which was collected from speeding fines.

Its Swindon area targets have so far included the A419 near Covingham, the A4259 Marlborough Road, the B4143 Bridge End Road and the road near Wanborough House.

Since it began operating in June, it has been out on 19 days, detecting a total of 919 speeders and leading to tickets for total fines of £55,140.

Road Safety Partnership spokeswoman Lynda Fleming said that might not be the exact sum generated, however, as some offenders might eventually have to pay more or less, depending on the outcome of possible court action.

The motorcycle, which is equipped with the same hi-tech camera technology as the mobile speed cameras carried in certain police cars and vans, cost a total of about £30,000 to buy and convert.

But safety camera unit manager David Frampton said: "The motorcycle can reach the places the others don't.

"Unlike the camera vans, we can position a motorcycle in narrow lanes

and on verges in villages and the countryside, where a mobile van would obstruct a driver's view."

Between June 14 and July 27, the machine was used for an hour or two on each of the 19 days it has so far spent in operation.

As a result, 903 drivers have been sent notices of intended prosecution for speeding and 16 were detected travelling at such speeds that they are facing prosecution in court rather than a fixed penalty.

Some motorists, opposed to speed cameras, claim they are little more than a way of generating revenue in fines.

However, the partnership insists that this is not the case, and that the cameras should more properly be called safety cameras.

Mr Frampton said: "The best result will be when nobody's caught.

"We want to see these figures reduced and people driving at safe and legal speeds.

"I want drivers to be aware of the motorcyclist who's there to deter speeding motorists, and for them to drive accordingly."

Barrie Hudson