Be prepared... for Scouts as traffic police: Packs to issue speeding drivers with warnings to get badges in return

Traditionally, Boy Scouts gain badges for activities such as hill-walking and canoeing.

Members of the 1st Shipston Scout pack, however, have earned themselves a more unusual one: traffic cop.

In return for helping the police man speed traps and lecturing offending drivers on the dangers of speeding, the boys have been presented with a community challenge badge in what is thought to be one of the first exercises of its kind in the country.

Badge of honour: Scouts aged between ten-and-a-half and 14 spent two hours being shown how to use a laser speed gun before joining police community support officers on duty (posed by model)

The Scouts, aged between ten-and-a-half and 14, spent two hours last Friday evening being shown how to use a laser speed gun before helping three police officers and three police community support officers on duty at the traps at Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire.

Twenty-four motorists were stopped for exceeding the 30mph limit in the two zones, with the worst offender clocked at 36mph.

All were offered the choice of accepting a verbal and written warning about their actions, both delivered by the Scouts, or the standard punishment of a £60 fixed penalty and three points on their licence.

Not surprisingly, all of the drivers opted for a ticking-off from the Scouts. However, the project was last night dismissed as ‘tomfoolery’ by the Association of British Drivers.

A spokesman said: ‘By all means go into schools and teach children about road safety, but don’t use them like this.’

But Scout leader Ann Simpson rejected suggestions the project was unsuitable for young boys.

Award: The community challenge badge

She said: ‘All of their parents gave permission for them to take part. The idea came from the boys themselves and it was carried out seriously.’

PCSO Russell Brian, one of those involved in the initiative, said: ‘Speeding is one of the points of concern raised at our regular community forum meetings and we agreed this was a good project to get the Scouts involved in.

‘One of the drivers was so disappointed with himself for speeding he insisted on the Scouts giving him as severe a rollicking as possible.’

Fellow PCSO Andy Steventon said the drivers caught speeding had been ‘very supportive’.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said all those involved wore high-visibility jackets and the speed checks took place on roads offering ‘clear visibility’ to drivers and those taking part.

Chris Foster, a spokesman for the Scout Association, said: ‘This is a real example of how Scouts can help other people’.