LOCAL residents have accused local police of using 'secret police' methods by using council vans to trap unwary motorists with radar guns.

The residents, who decline to be named, claim police officers were wrong to use the vans and should use police vehicles instead.

One man said: "Recently I was driving along and I saw a policeman changing the film in a special camera and much to my surprise I noticed that he was using a Wigan Council van.

"I think that as a council tax payer I and many others would like a senior council official to explain this.

"I believe Wigan is one of the top of the league in the country for council tax. Is this proper use of the council tax? I am sure that many council tax payers would like 'occasional' use of a council van!"

But a council spokesman said: "This is nothing new.

"The council were approached some time ago by the police for assistance in getting their speed cameras from site to site, and that is what is happening here.

"The police are trying to stamp down on speeding for road safety reasons and that is why they are using the speed cameras, both fixed position and mobile ones.

"It should also be remembered that part of everyone's council tax goes towards paying for police to do their job properly and if the council can assist them then the tax is being doubly efficient, but it so happens that in this case the cost of transporting this police equipment is claimed back from Central Government so it doesn't cost Leigh council taxpayers anything."

And Ch Insp Steve Wescott confirming the use of the vans, told The Journal: "There is no secrecy in what we are doing.

"There will be more of this in the future and not less. And if someone is suggesting that there should be some amount of 'fair play' to allow speeding motorists to 'get away with it', then that is nonsensical."

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