Roads Policing Unit

Overview

The Roads Policing Unit (RPU) is a core operational command within the Joint Operations Unit (JOU) of Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. It is tasked with promoting and enforcing road safety, reducing death and injury on the road network, and denying criminals the use of roads. The unit operates across the counties’ motorways, A-roads, rural routes, and urban networks.

RPU officers are highly trained, specialist personnel who fulfil both frontline response duties and intelligence-led proactive operations. The unit plays a key role in the strategic management of serious road collisions, provides high-visibility reassurance patrols, and supports wider policing operations including counter-terrorism and serious organised crime disruption.

Through both marked and covert deployments, the RPU delivers enforcement, education, and engagement in line with national priorities, working closely with local policing areas, the National Highways Agency, and other partner organisations.

Role and Responsibilities

The RPU’s mission is grounded in a threefold operational mandate:

1. Reducing road casualties through visible enforcement, driver education, and engagement with high-risk groups.

2. Disrupting criminal use of the road network, intercepting vehicles involved in organised crime, drug trafficking, and vehicle theft.

3. Delivering a rapid, specialist response to serious and fatal road traffic collisions and critical road-based incidents.

Officers are trained to advanced driving and pursuit standards, and many receive additional qualifications in forensic collision investigation, vehicle compliance enforcement, and tactical pursuit and containment (TPAC).

Strategic Alignment

The Roads Policing Unit is aligned with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) strategy Policing Our Roads Together. The unit’s operations are structured around five national strategic pillars:

• Reducing casualties through enforcement, education, and public engagement;

• Counter-terrorism readiness, recognising the road network’s potential for hostile activity or as a vector of attack;

• Tackling anti-social and reckless driving, particularly involving speed, impairment, and disqualified drivers;

• Denying criminals the use of the roads, through high-risk stops and intelligence-led vehicle intercepts;

• Maintaining a visible policing presence, reinforcing community confidence and deterring unsafe or unlawful road use.

Structure and Sub-Divisions

The RPU is divided into several operationally distinct sub-units, each specialising in a key area of roads policing. These sub-divisions ensure that the unit is capable of responding to both routine traffic matters and the most serious and complex incidents.

1. Roads Policing Response Team (RPRT)

The frontline response element of the RPU. Officers provide immediate specialist attendance to serious collisions, road-related fatalities, and complex incidents requiring skilled scene management. They are responsible for initial triage, casualty care, and securing evidence.

2. Roads Policing Proactive Team (RPPT)

An intelligence-led unit targeting high-harm offenders and mobile criminality. Using both marked and unmarked vehicles, RPPT intercepts suspects involved in drug trafficking, weapon transport, stolen vehicles, and other serious offences. The team frequently supports wider JOU and force-wide proactive operations.

3. Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) 

This unit undertakes comprehensive investigations into fatal and life-altering collisions. Officers work closely with the coroner, Crown Prosecution Service, and victim families, often acting as Family Liaison Officers. Investigations frequently result in prosecutions for offences such as death by dangerous driving or corporate manslaughter.

4. Forensic Collision Investigation Unit (FCIU)

FCIU provides scientific and technical support to SCIU investigations. Utilising advanced tools such as 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, drone imagery, and video reconstruction software, the unit prepares forensic reports for evidential use in both criminal and civil court proceedings.

5. Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU)
   CVU enforces roadworthiness, weight limits, and driver compliance in relation to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), public service vehicles (PSVs), and commercial fleets. Officers conduct roadside inspections, work alongside the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and support counter-terrorism vehicle screening operations at strategic transport points.

6. Road Safety Unit (RSU)
   The RSU leads on road safety education, outreach, and preventative campaigns. Engagements target schools, colleges, businesses, and vulnerable road user groups, with a focus on young drivers, older drivers, and motorcycle users. The unit delivers seasonal campaigns and supports national initiatives such as Brake Road Safety Week and Operation Limit.

7. Motorcycle Enforcement Team
   This team utilises high-powered motorcycles to provide rapid response, mobile enforcement, and flexible patrol coverage, especially in areas with restricted vehicle access or rural terrain. The team also assists with vehicle pursuits, escorts, and targeted operations against anti-social motorcycle use.

8. Special Escort Group (SEG)
   A precision escort and convoy team responsible for the secure movement of VIPs, dangerous or abnormal loads, military assets, and ceremonial convoys. Officers in SEG are trained in route planning, high-speed escort techniques, convoy command, and tactical manoeuvres. SEG works in partnership with military police and national protection agencies.

Specialist Capabilities and Equipment

• Advanced Pursuit Vehicles, both marked and covert, equipped with ANPR, real-time video, and communications systems.

• Scene Management Kits including collision barrier systems, signage, and lighting for rapid deployment.

• Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) trained officers and intercept-qualified drivers.

• Mobile breath and drug testing units, collision scene drones, and laser speed enforcement technology.

Partnership Working

The Roads Policing Unit regularly collaborates with a range of partners, including:

• National Highways, for motorway safety, road closures, and incident recovery;

• DVSA, for commercial vehicle and driver compliance checks;

• Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE), for vehicle-based intelligence and threat prevention;

• Local authorities, for road safety engineering and environmental hazard mitigation;

• Fire and Ambulance services, for joint scene management at multi-casualty incidents.