POLICE and highways have hit back at claims they are not doing enough to curb high speeds on Craven's roads.

Letters published in the Craven Herald have called for more static speed cameras as a deterrent to speeders.

Reader Peter Scott-Smith asked why the roadsides were peppered with police camera warning signs when claims had been made there was not one working speed camera in North Yorkshire.

"This could be construed as intent to deceive, to mislead the public into believing that the necessary action has been taken to protect their safety when in fact it has not," said Mr Scott-Smith.

A joint statement from the police and the highways agency states: "Our current practice of camera enforcement allows the use of patrol cars fitted with the latest speed detection equipment.

"This enables targeting of specific areas with a focus on casualty reduction. These areas and routes are subject to the camera enforcement sign.

"The installation of fixed camera sites must meet strict national criteria, which excludes a large part of the North Yorkshire road network."

A spokesman said that any funds from this enforcement went to straight central Government, not North Yorkshire Police, and could not therefore be used as an income generator as suggested by Mr Scott-Smith in his letter.

Jonathan Strange of Coniston Cold wrote to the Herald, claiming that although 30mph signs had been put up in the village no order had been published to make this the legal limit.

He added that police had told him that they were unwilling to enforce the speed limit with radar guns as it was too dangerous for the officer.

The police and highways agency have responded: "Before any speed limit can be introduced, certain criteria dictated by the Government must be met.

"Some of these criteria caused problems in relation to Coniston Cold because of the level of enforcement that would be required to underpin the effectiveness of a reduced limit. But it was always the intention of the police and the highways agency to reduce vehicle speeds.

"There was an additional problem, identified by Mr Strange that although signage had been erected, the relevant orders had not been made.

"Safety improvements have already been installed in the form of enhanced road markings and signage, and further work is planned for the near future to install a vehicle activated 'slow' sign.

"As a result of these additional measures the necessary criteria have been established to enable both agencies to agree to a 30mph restriction, which became lawful as from February 1 2003.

"Enforcement of the reduced limit will be undertaken."