POLICE will be able to catch speeding drivers using a hi-tech camera, which can automatically send penalty notices to offenders, around Tendring.

The Trucam, which costs £8,500, has been bought by the Tendring Community Safety Partnership to be used by police officers.

Officers working with the local Speedwatch groups can use the device to enforce speed limits in towns and villages across the district.

Before the Trucam, other cameras could only be used to pull over and advise speeding drivers.

But the new equipment can be used by Essex Police to automatically send out fixed penalty notices to motorists who break the law.

Trucam also captures video and still images of drivers, not only to provide additional evidence if a motorist says they were not at the wheel, but also to detect other offences such as people not wearing a seatbelt or motorists using a mobile phone while driving.

Insp Darren Deex, of the Tendring community policing team, said the device allowed his officers to address an issue raised by residents.

He said: “The initiative has been designed after numerous sites were identified by residents in separate communities who had growing concerns about road safety in their towns and villages.”

Police community support officer Julia Brandon spearheaded the project to buy a Trucam with Tendring Community Safety Partnership and was successful in a funding bid last year.

Mr Deex said: “Trucam reflects the significant advances made in technology and the law which enable my team to enforce speed offences in the district.

“We will also be able to support our community speed watch groups across Tendring who perform an invaluable role in reducing the numbers of killed and seriously injured on our roads.”

He added: “Speeding kills and this is another tactical option for us to use to prevent telling another family that their loved ones won’t be coming home.”