FEWER drivers are being caught using their mobile phones by police, according to a road safety charity.

In the past year, 925 motorists across Dorset have been caught using their phones behind the wheel – compared to a staggering 3,539 in 2011/12.

Road safety charity Brake says that the drastic drop in numbers is not due to drivers acting more responsibly, but instead claims fewer people are being caught by police.

The Police Federation says the number of dedicated road traffic officers has been hugely reduced over the last few years – and that there has been a 23 per cent reduction in the number of full-time equivalent traffic police officers.

In 2010, Dorset Police employed 76 road traffic officers compared to 47 in 2014.

Alice Bailey, communications and campaigns advisor for Brake said: “It would be wonderful to think this drop is down to people getting the message about the dangers of mobile phone use, but sadly we don’t think this is the case.

“A recent report called mobile use behind the wheel 'an epidemic', with our own studies showing more half of drivers in some age groups admitting they still use a phone while driving.

“As our police forces have faced major budget reductions, road traffic officers have too often been seen as a soft option for cuts. They are an essential part of the service and save lives.

With the government recently confirming plans to double fines and penalty points for using a phone behind the wheel, Brake is calling for urgent investment in road policing to ensure the new, tougher penalties succeed in acting as a deterrent.

Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, Head of the Alliance Road Policing team across Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police, said: "With budget challenges felt across policing over the last five years traffic officers are often now committed to investigations and operations."

However, Insp Leisk argued that reductions in prosecutions could be down to a combination of factors.

He added: "Thankfully, using a mobile phone while driving is much more socially unacceptable thanks to awareness campaigns and driver education, and most new cars now also have built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling.

"Our Road Policing Team operates seven days a week to tackle the five biggest killers on our roads such as using a hand-held mobile phone. Our dedicated No Excuse Team is deployed to areas where previous collisions have occurred and we actively respond to community concerns in residential areas regarding speeding and other offences.

"We also use a more intelligence-based enforcement approach through Operation Dragoon in order to engage with our most prolific driving offenders."