Camera vandals hunted in Scotland
Criminals who attacked two speed cameras with a saw in the Scottish borders are being hunted by police.
The two cameras on the A68 at Huntford and Camptown were targeted in the early hours of Sunday March 10, 2013, taking the total number of cameras to be attacked in this way to six.
Police are investigating the incident and are treating it as theft, vandalism and attempting to pervert the course of justice and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Superintendent Denise Mulvaney, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: "The method used to attack the cameras is highly dangerous, the people responsible for these actions are putting their own lives at risk as well as the safety of others. Anyone who comes into close contact with a camera that has been attacked in this fashion could be electrocuted.
"I'm urging any member of the public who has information they think might relate to any of the crimes aimed at safety cameras to contact the police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously."
Lothian and Borders Safety Camera Partnership spokesperson said: "Whilst the fixed safety cameras are out of action mobile safety camera deployments will take their place. The safety camera at Newtown St Boswells, which was attacked in December, has already been replaced and the remaining will be reinstated."
Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Community Safety, Councillor Donald Moffat said: "I'm delighted to hear the Partnership has begun to replace the safety cameras which have previously been damaged. If a camera has been installed at a specific location, it is there for a very good reason - to prevent accidents and deter motorists from speeding. These attacks are putting everyone who uses the A68 at a greater risk of being involved in what could be a serious collision."
Safety cameras are located at places where there is a history of collisions and speeding; removing the safety cameras from their locations puts all motorists at a greater danger and can have an adverse effect on the communities in which they are situated.
