Road Policing Unit

Based at Sprucefield, the Abnormal Loads and Vehicle Recovery Units provide a conduit for the haulage industry to comply with notification legislation for the largest loads with, weight or length, travelling on our road network on a daily basis. In addition they also act as a link between the police, the managing agency and the recovery operators for vehicle recoveries.

Traffic Management Unit's responsibilities include:

• Presenting a police perspective
• Attending public forums
• Major event traffic arrangements and provision of advice on roadwork signing

They aim to: 

• Reduce the number of collisions on our roads 
• Environmental improvements
• Improved access
• Improved traffic flows

There techniques include:

• Physical Alterations - including changes to road layout, provision of crossing facilities, provision of bus stops and shelters, reallocation of existing highways, changes to road levels or texture
• Regulatory Measures - including speed limits, one way systems, parking limitations, weight restrictions
• Provision of Information - including traffic signs and lane markings, signposting car parks, erection of street names, matrix and electronic information, utilisation of media

Road Policing Development is the organisation's central point of contact for Road Policing policy and legislation.

As part of this role, the team conduct research and procurement of traffic enforcement equipment in order to comply with legislative requirements set out by the Home Office and The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).

The team also has six dedicated Road Education Officers that are located across the organisation. They are solely responsible for the delivery of road safety advice to all road users, concentrating mainly on secondary education. Road Education Officers deliver and promote a programme of measures on road safety in your local area including Bikesafe.

Road Education Officers assist through education within schools and vulnerable adult groups within the community. These officers lead the delivery of road safety education for children at nursery school to young adults at University. This incorporates the "right to drive right to life" resource pack and the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Roadsafe Roadshow.

Based at Sprucefield, Lisburn, the Collision Investigation Unit is staffed by Road Policing officers, and currently consists of an Inspector, Sergeants, Constables and support staff. They provide coverage between 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and operate a call out system after hours and over the weekend for all of Northern Ireland when dealing with road death investigations, 

To ensure compliance with the Human Rights Act all fatal road traffic collisions will be dealt with as an unlawful killing until the contrary is proven. There is a recognition now that in many circumstances the investigation of a road death is equivalent in complexity to that of a homicide.

The Road Policing Unit also has specialist officers and teams that include: 

• Fixed Penalty Processing and Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership
• VIP Motorcycle Escort teams that deal with high profile escorts like the Giro d’Italia, Watercannon/Public Support Units
• Forensic Vehicle Examiners
• Trained officers in dealing with the Carriage of dangerous goods (CDG)

The ANPR Intercept Team has been established with advanced driver officers drawn from the Road Policing Unit who have undergone the latest specialist tactical pursuit and containment (TPAC) tactical training.

AIT will use vehicles equipped with sophisticated digital technology, to automatically detect the vehicle registrations of those committing or suspected of committing crime as they move around the Northern Ireland road network.

Police Service of Northern Ireland and Translink have a well-established successful partnership in place to serve the community in Northern Ireland.

The Safe Transport Team is a dedicated team of police officers who work alongside Translink staff to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour at stations and on-board public transport.