Department for Transport orders DVLA to stop sharing vehicle keeper information with London borough running speed enforcement trial in unlawful way

The manner in which Wandsworth Council has been running a speed enforcement trial has been unlawful, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said, bringing an end to an experiment in which drivers were identified and warned about their speed.

The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency has been told by the DfT to stop sharing vehicle keeper records with Wandsworth.

A DfT spokesperson said: “Wandsworth Council is carrying out this experimental speed enforcement trial using powers in a way that is unlawful. 

“We have therefore taken immediate action and asked DVLA to stop sharing registered keeper details with Wandsworth Council for the purpose of enforcing this scheme.”

The DfT said only the police could enforce speeding offences, not local authorities, and implied any penalties would have to be refunded, although Wandsworth maintained none had been issued.

In November 2022 Wandsworth began a trial on two main roads - Priory Lane and Wimbledon Park Road - of 20mph speed enforcement cameras, which a council statement at the time described as “part of our efforts to support the police and Transport for London with their speed enforcement work, and as our contribution to wider London efforts on Vision Zero”.  

Wandsworth said this had led to a 1.0mph reduction in speeds and the number of vehicles traveling at more than 25mph dropping from 13% to 6.6%.

Car number plates had been recorded by the cameras and matched with DVLA records and offending motorists sent a warning letter, although no fines had been issued.

The statement said: “The Department for Transport has taken the decision to restrict access to details of registered vehicle keepers meaning we are now unable to contact drivers who are found to have been speeding.

“Naturally we are disappointed with this decision, and are having ongoing conversations with the Department for Transport regarding the future of the trial.”

When Wandsworth launched the cameras a ‘frequently asked questions’ document said the police remained responsible for speed enforcement and “we are piloting a civic enforcement route issuing penalty charge notices”.

Wandsworth said then it acted under Section 4(5)(a) of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003, which it aid allows local authorities to issue penalty charge notices for contravention of a 'prescribed order', which is defined in section 4(16) as an order made under section 6 or 9 of the 1984 Act.

Mark Smulian