Telford speed camera set ablaze again

A speed camera in Telford was set on fire by suspected arsonists at the weekend – just weeks after it was last targeted.

The fixed camera, which monitors traffic speeds in Station Road, Ketley, was set alight early yesterday morning. It was set on fire in a separate incident in early April.

Katie Jenkins, spokeswoman for Safer Roads Partnership, blasted the "mindless culprits", claiming the damage put motorists and pedestrians at risk.

She said: "It is not unheard of for individual speed cameras to be targeted, but each incident is very regrettable. The irresponsible perpetrators should realise the cameras are put in place to protect road users.

"There will be a financial cost to repairing the camera again. Hopefully it will only be the casing and not the actual camera which is damaged."

Police said they are treating the latest fire as criminal damage and have appealed for witnesses. Inspector Jane Fitzpatrick, of West Mercia Police, said: "We got a report of the fire from the fire service that it involved a speed camera box. Officers also attended and we are treating it as criminal damage.."

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service sent a crew from Wellington after the fire was reported just before 4.30am. They used a hose reel jet and dry powder extinguishers.

Anyone with information can call 03003 333000 quoting incident 152S of June 12.