I spent a day with Lancashire Police traffic officer Simon Grounds

Whilst visions of living out my Fast and Furious fantasy did spring to mind, I was met with more of a Hot Fuzz experience. My experience was not one of high-speed pursuits or sting operations but instead an insight into modern policing. 

This look behind the scenes, of the otherwise mysterious world of policing, was fascinating and I luckily couldn’t have been joined by a more professional and passionate officer.

Covering all areas in East Lancs, PC Simon Grounds was constantly on the lookout for “people driving like idiots” but despite his hawklike focus, nothing appeared. He informed me that this wasn’t uncommon during the day as at that time, most of the offenders were probably at work, or he joked "still in bed."

Additionally, due to the availability, we were unable to take out an unmarked car, which often saw more action. Simon explained that marked cars are an effective preventative measure, but people see them coming before they see him.

And Simon spoke openly and honestly about the challenges that continue to face the force, especially after a week where multiple fatal crashes occurred.

As incidents of anti-social driving have continued to increase, the number of officers in the team has dropped, leaving them often spread out sparsely across the county.  

However, despite these challenges, Simon was clear about one thing – he loves his job.

Simon said: “We are spread a lot more finely across the county and the driving standards are worse at the moment.

“We are now tailored to target the crimes through Operation Centurion, and we can bring the number down.”

Since 2010, central government police funding has fallen by about 20 per cent as 6,000 officers nationally were having to work away from frontline crime fighting to fill the gaps after a £3.2bn shortfall.

However, the state-of-the-art technology being used by the team is solving numerous issues, including the introduction of the drone team and accessing social media to catch repeat perpetrators.

And in the age of social media, he informed me that it provided a handy tool.

Umar Gul, 24, of Crossland Street, Accrington was jailed for 16 months for reckless driving after gloating on social media. Reports from the community exposed him to PC Grounds' team and led to his prosecution.

However, despite all the fancy equipment, he says the most important source is the local community, who are reporting more and more cases of anti-social driving to the police.

One such scheme is Operation Snap. PC Grounds explained that residents providing dashcam footage has been a fundamental part of their operation, where they can issue tickets without leaving the office.

He added: “People are getting fed up with anti-social driving and are remaining committed to trying to prevent it.

“We are always trying to educate the community and there are more squads in the neighbourhood, and they have helped deal with the saga with the Sar-on bikes.”

When pushed on the particularly bad areas for anti-social driving he said that Preston New Road and Bamber Castle had been highlighted. This was of particular concern, largely because of the real threat to pedestrians that this can cause.

Earlier this week, elsewhere in Lancs, a baby was killed in a hit-and-run in Bamber Bridge whilst the mother remains in a critical condition. Five have been arrested as investigations continue.

Stepping away from my afternoon with the traffic team, I felt a renewed respect for the sheer amount of work that goes into keeping our roads safe. While it may not have been an adrenaline-fueled shift, the insights I gained  valuable.

Behind every routine patrol and preventative measure lies a team of passionate officers like PC Grounds, determined to make a difference despite the challenges they face.

From community engagement to cutting-edge technology, it’s clear that road safety isn’t just about chasing down offenders but building safer communities.