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Speeding remains the most frequently raised issue in all of Derbyshire's towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

The PCC, Hardyal Dhindsa, has already agreed to fund a community speed watch co-ordinator and community speed watch administrator for two years at a cost of £110,000, and is now boosting the scheme further by funding 20 new grab bags, two per local policing unit, for the county at a cost of £8,106. The bags contain high visibility jackets, handheld radar and signage to equip residents to undertake their own checks.

Mr Dhindsa said: "Speeding is by far the biggest problem and concern facing our villages and neighbourhoods.

“I've listened to what many people have told me during my tour and will be giving communities the tools they need to help change driver habits and make an impact on road safety.

"The aim is not to catch as many speeders as possible but to reduce speed in areas of concern and make drivers aware that their actions have consequences on local communities.

"Community Speed Watch (CSW) has played a valuable role in promoting road safety for many years now and I'm delighted to support the expansion of the project for the benefit of all our communities."

CSW is an initiative designed to harness public support for neighbourhood policing by encouraging volunteers to undertake speed monitoring checks in areas of concern, verifying and recording the registration numbers of offending vehicles.

Details of vehicles are then forwarded to Derbyshire Constabulary's Casualty Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) which conducts appropriate checks and issues a letter to the registered keeper asking for their cooperation by reducing speed in their community. A maximum of three letters will be sent to offenders, two by post and the third hand- delivered by a member of Derbyshire Constabulary.

The initiative supports the wider road safety work of the PCC, Derbyshire Constabulary, the county and city councils and parish councils.