FOLLY BOTTOM: MISINFORMATION
18 February 2005 - Safe Speed

Safe Speed deplores misleading information issued by the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership.

In a press release the partnership suggests that the cases ''were discontinued yesterday by the Crown Prosecution Service''(CPS). This is misleading - almost a lie. The CPS offered no evidence and the cases were dismissed by the court.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: ''I was absolutely amazed to read the statement issued by the camera partnership.

''The fact is that they do not have evidence that the speed limit signs at Folly Bottom were properly displayed - and there''s a simple reason
- the signs were not properly displayed, so of course there''s no evidence.''

''This looks to me like a very ugly and cynical attempt to deflect innocent members of the public from seeking their rights under the law.''

Barry Culshaw, the defence solicitor in the cases said: ''The cases were not discontinued, the Crown formally offered no evidence and the cases were dismissed by the court. The impact of this is that all Folly Bottom convictions and fixed penalties, must be regarded as unsafe and any motorist who perceives an injustice about the situation should seek legal advice or at the very least apply to the court to have their conviction rescinded.

Barry Culshaw advises motorists fined or convicted at the site as
follows:

* If you pled guilty or paid a fixed penalty: apply to the magistrates court to have the conviction set aside.

* If you were found guilty after a trial: apply for leave to appeal against conviction out of time to the Crown Court.

www.safespeed.org.uk

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