West Midlands Police aim to nab Twitter award

West Midlands Police are seeking nominations for the Police Twitter awards, for their efforts to educate and inform the general public on, among other things, safe driving around cyclists, via social media.

Tweeting as @Trafficwmp, the twitter account of the pioneers of the close pass operation shares general information about the rules of the road relating to cycling and how to drive safely around people cycling, and at times intervenes to clarify misperceptions, including among its fellow police forces.

The CMPG (Central Motorway Policing Group) - Road Policing, which covers the motorway and roads division of West Midlands Police, also publicises offenders caught by its officers, and the unit’s community outreach work.

The annual Police Twitter Awards recognises the best tweeting in police work across the board, from police sergeants, special constables and PCSOs, to aviation and international accounts, to police dog and police horse accounts – as well as the best roads policing account.

Lots of great discussion/positive interaction on here last few days. So Don't for get to vote for us in the #Poltawards Category 8 #RT pic.twitter.com/wpjCSSN5mv

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) August 2, 2017

They share images from their close pass work on the street

#OpClosePass today around Millennium Point/Digbeth Birmingham with @Woodgatefire educating the offenders. #partnershipworking @BCRbirmingham pic.twitter.com/edFObR8kBh

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) July 25, 2017

They make amusing use of hashtags...

Great result with the #Stinger 3 of the 4 tyres succesfully deflated #HedgeHogsRevenge pic.twitter.com/2MBNVPakV9

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) August 6, 2017

...and though the initiative is mostly about education, they don’t mess around with prosecution, when the need arises. 

If you fail to answer a third party video reported Due Care #NoticeofIntendedProsecution this is the going rate at court #OpClosePass pic.twitter.com/2u4WOKc4FQ

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) July 18, 2017

In July they tweeted “Not guilty plea resulted in a full trial, defendant found guilty of driving without due care. 4 points & £1038 in fines/costs #OpClosePass”

As well as using Twitter to publicise the risks of not driving responsibly and within the law, the force also uses Twitter to educating social media users on the rights and responsibilities of drivers and cyclists – and to help improve attitudes towards, and respect for, cyclists.  It’s not unusual to see ill-informed opinions being corrected by CPMG Roads Policing on Twitter - and it's hard to argue with the police.

Well our communities, cycling groups, the highway code, transport and infrastructure experts, the law and we disagree with you

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) July 17, 2017

One Twitter user sums up their charm nicely here – road safety treated seriously, with a bit of mirth thrown in.

Cheering myself up reading @Trafficwmp tweets - lovely to have #RoadSafety treated seriously (with a bit of mirth thrown in) #OpClosePass

— Kirsty Lewin (@KirstyLewin) May 15, 2017

They also engage in pro-active policing - targeting places people will want to cycle, before they are put off doing so by poor driving.

We are expecting a big increase in vulnerable road users once the Uni development is completed, we're changing driver behaviour first #plan pic.twitter.com/RHdDP0fUXd

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) July 25, 2017

The force gets the thumbs up from Chris Boardman 

Powerful and bang on logic from @WMPolice other forces read and learn.
Evidence supports this approach. It should be National standard pic.twitter.com/9qMEAnm10U

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) July 16, 2017

Members of the public can vote in the Police Twitter Awards, via Twitter, until 31st August. Any nominations must be in the following format: I nominate @name in Category [number] #poltawards

A nomination for West Midlands Traffic Police account would read: I nominate @Trafficwmp in Category 8 #poltawards

Nominations will be judged by a panel of experts, who will decide the three finalists in each category. For more ways to nominate, visit here.

​Last year’s overall winner was Sergeant Harry Tangye - @DC_ARVSgt - of Devon & Cornwall Police.