Sandwell Council is confirming its support for the West Midlands Police (WMP) road safety initiative Operation Snap (Op Snap).
Both WMP and Sandwell Council want to make sure our roads are as safe as possible for all users. That's the reason behind Operation Snap but we need your help.
If you see anyone committing driving offences on our roads and it's captured on your dashcam, CCTV or a mobile phone by a passenger or a pedestrian, you can send it to the police by going to West Midlands Police website and searching for Operation Snap.
Offences might include dangerous or careless driving, using a mobile phone while driving and close passing. Every piece of footage sent to Op Snap is reviewed by specially-trained staff and if an offence is identified, the driver can be prosecuted or told to take a driver improvement course.
In order for WMP to investigate any footage of incidents submitted by the public, it must meet certain criteria:
• It must be submitted within 10 days of the alleged offence to allow us time to investigate.
• The footage should include the whole incident, and, wherever possible, one minute prior to and after the offence. The footage should not be any longer than 10 minutes in duration.
• If you are reporting an incident that involves a collision, please do not use this service. Instead, please call West Midlands Police on 101, select option 1 and provide details within 24 hours of the collision taking place.
Along with the footage, you would need to provide the date, time and location of the incident, the registration, make and colour of the vehicle and details of what happened and how you were involved by completing a statement and upload that with your footage.
Once a report is submitted any information shared may be used to support legal proceedings or other action to address bad driving. It is very important that the footage is not posted elsewhere before or while any action is being taken by the police or courts.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, Councillor Keith Allcock, said:
“Making our streets as safe as possible for all road users is of the utmost importance which is why I strongly support this initiative and would encourage everyone to submit any footage they have of bad driving.
“However, it is important that all footage is obtained safely. Drivers should not film any incident themselves on a mobile phone while driving and any footage should not be shared on social media or elsewhere as it will mean that it can’t be used by the police in any action.”
Sgt Steve Evans, of the Operation Snap team, said:
“We’ve had fantastic support from the public for Operation Snap. People who submit footage are doing their bit to help us in our mission to make the roads safer for everyone in the West Midlands.”