The West Fife and Coastal Villages crime report for December – which included a “dangerous dog” attack in Kincardine – intimated that officers are unlikely to attend unless it’s necessary for “casualty reduction”.
Fife Council recently approved plans for 20mph zones in Rosyth, Crossford and Cairneyhill, while they’re also hoping to cut the speed limit on Robertson Road in Dunfermline.
The police report said: “As residents of the West Fife villages area are no doubt aware, several towns and villages have recently had 20mph zones implemented, or are in the process of doing so.
“The community police team have received several queries in relation to these new zones and any enforcement of these.
“We will monitor the new 20mph zones however Police Scotland guidance for enforcement of speed limits states ‘deployment of resources must prioritise sites which represent the greatest risk and should only be undertaken where considered necessary and in the interests of casualty reduction’.”
A 20mph zone is planned for Robertson Road in Dunfermline but police have advised they can’t always be there to enforce the new speed limits. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Second teenager arrested in connection with car theft
And hopes that members of the public could help slow traffic down have been hampered as there are “significant delays” in approving applications for those wishing to take part in the community speed watch programme.
The police report added: “Should any person wish to volunteer for the community speed watch programme, or wish any further information, please feel free to contact us via email (WestFifeCoastalVillagesCPT@scotland.police.uk).
“Significant delays have been encountered in vetting for candidates being carried out.
“Efforts are being made to speed this process up however these are ongoing.”
Before a 20mph zone can be implemented, a traffic regulation order must be approved by Fife Council.
With this in place, it means the new speed limit can be enforced by the police but it is one more job to add to the workload of a force that’s already facing increased demand.
Last month specialist road traffic officers also carried out enforcement activities in the villages which resulted in 18 separate charges for law-breaking motorists.
They included driving with defective tyres, driving without insurance, driving with an overloaded vehicle, failing to take the required test and eight speeding offences.
Moving away from the roads, the ‘incidents of note’ in the December crime report included a dangerous dog with a member of the public in Kincardine being bitten by a dog “not under control”.
The team said that “extensive enquiries” were ongoing into this offence, which led to a 39-year-old man being treated in hospital.
Between November 23 and December 26 there were 267 calls to the police that related to the West Fife and Coastal Villages area.
There were 52 to report a crime, 53 about road traffic incidents, 62 ‘concern for a person’ calls and 39 about anti-social behaviour.