TRAFFIC officers in Dorset have responded to claims that some police forces site speed cameras in "good hunting grounds" to make more money.

A government body which inspected a selection of police forces said they were told enforcement took place at certain locations to make money rather than because they had a history of collisions.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services(HMICFRS) inspected a number of forces, including Dorset.

Their report said they had been been given examples of camera sites which officers "believed didn’t have a history of collisions or other identified vulnerabilities."

They did not state which force they were referring to.

In January this year police in Dorset revealed that average speed cameras on the A338 Spur Road caught around 230 speeding motorists every day in the first two weeks after they were installed.

The cameras are positioned between Blackwater junction and the Cooper Dean roundabout.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the Dorset Police traffic unit, said: "Fixed speed cameras are one of the methods Dorset Police and partners use to help keep our roads safe. They are located in key locations that have been identified as areas of concern, often by local communities, for speeding and road safety issues.

"Driving at excess speed is a major risk factor for causing collisions and it is clear that the higher the speed of vehicles involved in a collision, the more serious the consequences are likely to be. Speed cameras can have an important role to play in encouraging people to drive at appropriate speeds on our county’s roads."

He said the force uses mobile camera vans as well as fixed site cameras and added: "Officers from our roads policing team, including our No Excuse officers, regularly patrol the county’s roads to help ensure motorists drive in a safe manner and do not put other road users at risk.

"For more information on our work with partners to keep Dorset’s roads safe go to dorsetroadsafe.org.uk."