West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, has allocated a further £165,000 funding to expand Operation Snap, a scheme adopted by West Midlands Police and other forces in a bid to clamp down on driving offences.
The success of the scheme so far has seen a significant rise in prosecutions. In 2024, around 16,200 video clips were submitted to Operation Snap, with a remarkable prosecution rate of 85%. Mr. Foster has praised the scheme, saying:
“Operation Snap is proving to be an incredibly effective tool in holding careless, dangerous and reckless drivers to account.”
Under the scheme, motorists can submit dashcam footage showing potentially careless, dangerous or reckless driving, to an online platform. The video must be submitted within ten days of the alleged offence, and where possible, should show one minute before and one minute after the incident. The video should be unedited, no longer than ten minutes, and display the whole incident. Incidents involving collisions should not be uploaded, but reported to police in the usual way.
Other information that must be submitted with the video clip includes the make, colour and registration of the vehicle, the time, date and location of the incident, and a statement from the person submitting the video describing their involvement. Full details can be found on the West Midlands Police website.
Many of the videos submitted to Operation Snap show relatively minor driving offences. It is important, though, to remember that these can lead to penalty points being added to driving licences. This can lead to serious consequences for drivers and their families. For those facing difficulties due to penalty points totting up, solicitors with relevant experience in motoring offences can give sound advice on how to get the best legal outcome.