Road Policing Unit (RPU)
 Inspector Emma Bowman |
Inspector Emma Bowman is the senior officer in charge of this unit |
Based at Divisional Headquarters in Perth, the Road Policing Unit comprises one Inspector, three Sergeants, 24 Constables and three members of support staff, including the Road Safety Officer.
The Road Policing Unit provides specialist support to operational police officers and the community engagement policing of the division.
It also works closely with our partners Perth & Kinross Council, BEAR North East Scotland, Scotland TranServ, the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency (VOSA) and HM Revenue & Customs in order to establish and properly address any road safety or road engineering issues on the extensive roads network of the division.
The main objectives of the unit are the reduction of road traffic collision casualties and to detect, disrupt and deter travelling criminals who use the roads of Perth and Kinross.
With a road network of approximately 1660 miles, the Unit is tasked and deployed in line with the National Intelligence Model to ensure that they are patrolling in key areas and therefore most effective in achieving its objectives.
In order to achieve a reduction in road collision casualties, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt, drink/drug driving and inappropriate/inconsiderate driving manner remain high priorities of the unit.
RPU on patrol on the A9 near Blair Atholl
Road Safety Officer
The Road Safety Officer co-ordinates all road safety activity in the division and develops and maintains strong links with partner agencies. Road safety is firmly embedded in the community planning process and the road safety officer's work involves participation on a number of levels from school travel planning to child car seat clinics. Much of the officer's time is devoted to dealing with the more vulnerable members of the Perth and Kinross community, in particular the young and the elderly.
A large proportion of the role involves working with school children - delivering cycle training and pedestrian training, providing presentations at transition days and co-ordinating national schemes such as Junior Road Safety Officers.
The Road Safety Offcier enjoys close liaison with the local health authority and regularly contributes advice to ante-natal clinics and parent and toddler groups. Wheelchair tests and Independent Adult Assessments are other vital functions.
On top of these commitments, the Road Safety Officer provides in excess of 100 presentations per year to a range of groups on a variety of road safety topics.
