‘We can’t be everywhere … but they can be out there’: co-producing road safety through Community Speedwatch

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national scheme in the United Kingdom (UK) in which citizen volunteers receive training and equipment from their local police service to monitor and record details of speeding vehicles using approved detection devices. Registered vehicle keepers recorded as exceeding the speed limit are contacted – usually via a letter sent by the local police service – with the purpose of educating them about the risks and consequences of speeding. CSW represents a form of co-production in policing in which citizen volunteers play an active role in producing a service that is of consequence to them (road safety), alongside the ‘regular’ producer (the police) (Ostrom, 1996). This article explores road safety co-production ‘on the ground’ through the experiences of CSW volunteers and the police officers, staff, and road safety practitioners that work alongside them in two police force areas in the south of England, UK. Findings point to the ‘additionality’ that CSW brings to road safety, beyond which could be provided by the police alone. However, while this contribution was recognised, it was felt that similar resources were not invested by the police leading to feelings of an unequal or one-sided co-production relationship. The article concludes with calls to reframe co-production of road safety (and broader policing/community safety spaces) in which community led schemes and the individuals within them are seen as genuine partners by the police and other relevant agencies who in turn invest time and resources to involve, support, and promote their contribution.