Cops in Edinburgh deploy CUT-OUT police officer to try to stop speeding drivers – but it’s not working
Police in Edinburgh have taken a rather unusual approach to slow down speeding drivers - but according to locals, 'Pop-up Bob' isn't pulling his weight
POLICE in Scotland have taken a rather unusual approach to try to stop drivers from speeding.
A cut-out officer holding a radar gun has been deployed in a residential Edinburgh street to trick motorists into slowing down.
But locals say the life-size fake isn't pulling his weight.
According to , "Pop-up Bob" has been stationed in Eglinton Crescent in the Scottish capital for the last few weeks.
Setting up camp chained to a lamp post, Bob is tasked with encouraging drivers to stick to the 20mph speed limit.
Unfortunately, parked cars often block the officer from drivers' view, and most have already figured out that the 2D character is a fake.
Residents said most drivers just laugh at the cut-out, while others called for real officers to take its place.
One local said: “A real police officer with a speed gun would be better. People don’t notice it. The children like it, though.”
The cut-out is allegedly owned by the city council, and is rolled out every day in conjunction with the police to target problem speeders in the area.
Edinburgh Police Superintendent Mark Rennie told : “Alongside high-visibility patrols and safety cameras, the prop is a visual reminder to drivers to drive in a responsible manner.
"The cut-out is not used in place of genuine officers.”
The road laws you need to know
Law enforcers in Scotland are trying a number of different methods to reduce cases of speeding, including proposing drivers who break 20mph and 30mph speed limits be handed a written warning instead of a fine.
The recent sighting of "Pop-up Bob" isn't the first time British police have used cut-outs to try to deter criminals.
Scottish police have been using similar props on roads around the country for at least two years, while cops in England and Wales have previously used the figures inside shops in an attempt to deter thieves.