Speed camera van taken off road after windows broken in attack in Tyrone
By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association
A road safety camera van has been taken off the road after it was attacked by a man throwing masonry in Co Tyrone.
Police said it was a “frightening ordeal” for the occupant of the van, which is fitted with a mobile camera to detect speeding motorists.
Detectives are appealing for information about the incident in Coagh on Monday afternoon.
The Road Safety Partnership van was operating on Ballinderry Bridge Road when at 2:50pm a man approached the vehicle, attacking it by throwing masonry.
Several windows were smashed.
The suspect also shouted abuse before he made off from the scene.
The PSNI said inquiries are ongoing to locate the suspect, and the van is off the road for repairs.
Chief Inspector Trevor Campbell said: “The front and passenger side windows of the vehicle were smashed, and the camera window and back door were cracked and dented.
“Fortunately the driver was not physically injured, but you can imagine this was a frightening ordeal which lasted for several minutes.
“The driver was doing their job, and to be subjected to such fear is unacceptable and appalling.
“The purpose of safety camera deployments, whether by fixed cameras, or in our mobile road safety vans, is to slow drivers’ speeds and keep everyone safer on the roads.”
Campbell added: “Speeding is one of the ‘fatal five’ causes of collisions, and we deploy the vans to locations across Northern Ireland where there is a proven history of collisions, or where the local community has concerns and has requested speed enforcement action.
“They are there to help reduce serious and fatal collisions on our roads and are a key element in reducing drivers’ speeds.
“One of the greatest contributions each road user can make is to reduce their speed.
“Speeding is a dangerous crime and poses a serious threat to other road users and we, as a police service, have a duty to detect those who break the law and deal with any offences.
“If we all stop speeding, road safety improves, lives can be saved and fewer people have to contend with life-changing injuries.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting reference 1070 22/06/26.