POLICE officers have launched an attack on speed cameras, claiming they are damaging their relationship with the public.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, a "union" representing rank-and-file officers, believes some cameras are being used simply to raise money.

This feeling is particularly prevalent in Lancashire following the publication, earlier this month, of 2002 figures for speeding.

Almost 10 per cent of the 1.5million speeding tickets handed out nationwide were issued in the county, even though it only has around three per cent of the country's drivers.

The growing feeling of anger prompted Chief Constable Paul Stephenson to launch a review earlier this year of the county's 340 cameras.

He wants to win back the support of the public by raising the trigger threshold for fines to, for example, 37mph in a 30mph zone.

Mr Stephenson said he had ordered the review, which will be completed in June, because he could not police without consent and needed the public to think the system was fair.

Ms Berry said officers were bearing the brunt of the public backlash against cameras by regularly being labelled money-grabbers by motorists.

She added: "There is a general perception that it is a money-making exercise.

"I believe some cameras are there as a revenue generator.

"I think police get the blame for that.

"I think it has been quite destructive -- middle England will continue to pay their fines, but others don't.

"There are concerns that large numbers of unpaid speeding tickets are being written off without any follow-up.

"I think speed cameras have totally changed a part of the relationship between the police and the public.

"Technology is brilliant, but it has to be used in a balanced way.

"In some force areas if you are going 35mph at 2am in a 30mph area and there is no other traffic on the road, it would be extremely unusual for an officer to give you a ticket -- a speed camera doesn't have that discretion."