POLICE will not increase speed enforcement despite figures showing more drivers are breaking the law since roadside cameras were switched off.

Figures from the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership showed since the speed camera in Watlington Road, Blackbird Leys, was turned off, 62 drivers were detected exceeding 35mph in five days.

A dummy radar inside the camera – which cannot take pictures of offenders – showed an 88 per cent increase in daily offences compared with when the camera was loaded.

Another radar in a speed camera on the A44 in Woodstock detected 110 motorists driving above the enforcement threshold in five days – an 18.3 per cent increase in daily offences.

The new figures come 10 days after the county’s 72 fixed speed cameras and seven traffic light cameras were switched off after Oxfordshire County Council withdrew £600,000 of funding.

Road safety campaign group Brake was concerned about the findings but police last night said they would not be stepping in to pick up the shortfall in enforcement.

Cameras continue to be used in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire because councils there are paying the Safer Roads Partnership.

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber said: “The level of enforcement and education carried out by both the roads policing department and local police officers in Oxfordshire will remain constant. This decision affects the speed cameras in the county and not (police) enforcement.

“Thames Valley Police is not in the financial position to pick up the shortfall created by the county council’s decision to withdraw funding and make up the reduction in contribution from Oxfordshire.

“The speed cameras have been deactivated for 10 days so it is far too early to speculate whether enforcement will be needed at specific speed camera sites.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “We have been concerned about people speeding past those cameras since they said they were turning them off.

“If an accident occurs from someone driving over 35mph to 40mph, who are we going to blame – the county council or the Government?”

Prior to the council installing the camera on the A44 close to Blenheim Palace there were 23 accidents, two of them fatal and one serious.

Woodstock town councillor and former mayor Peter Jay said: “It’s completely mad to switch them off.

“Why would you want to get away from the first thing that has worked in 100 years to control traffic speeds and earned large amounts to save pressure on the taxpayer?”

Partnership spokesman Dan Campsall said: “These are very limited results from just two locations. However, if this is a trend that grows across Oxfordshire it is very worrying indeed.

“Evidence shows just small changes in speed significantly affect the risk of road users and the severity of crashes.”