I HAVE have always had an open mind on the use of speed cameras.

If honest evidence can be provided for or against their use then I will consider fixing my opinion. However one piece of alleged evidence provided by Superintendent Rob Povey (Oxford Mail, April 1) somehow doesn’t stack up.

He says that during the time cameras were inoperative speeding increased.

Firstly, how can he be sure? It can’t be because he has more patrol cars on the road. We hardly see a police officer on foot, let alone in a car. It is also documented that the police will not enforce the 20mph limit in Oxford, which suggests that speeding motorists are low down the priority list.

Secondly, does his evidence pertain to the vicinity of the speed camera site or generally across the county?

Thirdly, I recall the county had had a massive reduction in road deaths in the previous year, some of which were during the time the cameras were in operation.

Police officers are required to provide truthful evidence, not a gut reaction or supposition.

If Mr Povey wishes to convince me that cameras work, then he will have to do much better than this.

So far all he has done is convince me that he needs the money.

Alan Lester, Northcourt Road, Abingdon