FEWER traffic police are now working in Dorset after their numbers were cut by a third, it has been revealed.

The cost-saving measures have seen 18 of the force’s 54 traffic officers re-deployed to general policing duties – a 33 per cent reduction.

Dorset Police say fatal and serious injury accidents fell to an all-time low of 346 in 2010.

And the number of people who lost their lives on the county’s roads dropped from 26 in 2009/10 to 18 in 2010/11.

Chief Superintendent Martin Hiles said: “The demand isn’t at the same level as it was a few years ago. Operation No Excuse and the awareness of it is now really huge.”

He said that those 18 officers are now working in uniform patrols and Safer Neighbourhood Teams in areas with higher levels of crime and antisocial behaviour.

“The public would expect us to make sure the things that matter to them are being dealt with,” added Chief Supt Hiles.

But motoring organisation the AA claims the reduction in traffic officers will be putting drivers at risk.

AA spokesman Andrew Howard said: “Patrolling the roads is pretty vital for road safety. Cameras and technology can do many things but what they can’t do is root out the really bad driver.”

Chief Supt Hiles now wants the former traffic officers to spread the word about the ‘fatal four’ – speeding, drink or drug driving, using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts – to other uniform officers in Dorset.

“I want everyone, whether they are Safer Neighbourhood officers, out on general patrol or specialist operational officers to be focusing on law enforcement on the roads.

“I don’t think the fact an officer wears a white hat and comes under the traffic department is the deciding factor, I think it’s how much all uniform officers put into road policing.”

Operation No Excuse 2010

This hard-hitting ongoing campaign was launched in January 2010 and uses heightened patrols and road checks, as well as information awareness to get the message across.

Between January and November 2010, more than 17,000 offences were detected, including speeding, drink driving, people not wearing a seatbelt and using mobile phones behind the wheel.

It has received funding to run until 2011/12.