A CONTROVERSIAL speed camera scheme first piloted in the North-East could be installed nationwide.

Richard Brunstrum, formerly an assistant chief constable of Cleveland Police, is spearheading the scheme and is now thought to be urging all police forces to sign up.

Since the scheme was introduced on 35 of Teesside's most troublesome roads two years ago, accidents the number of accidents has fallen by nearly 50 per cent and about 59,000 motorists have been caught speeding.

The decision to pump large resources into the scheme has been criticised by some motorists, but Mr Brunstrum, now chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' technology committee, said the aim was to save lives and reduce injuries. The move means the rest of the region will have more visible speed cameras and, in the most controversial proposal, mobile speed cameras which will operate from clearly marked vans.

Currently, about half of the UK forces are signed up to the safety camera initiative, but County Durham and North Yorkshire have yet to become involved.

Forces in the partnership schemes, which include police, local authorities and the courts, allow some of the money raised from speeding fines to go towards the setting up of mobile cameras.

The cost of the pilot scheme on Teesside was thought to be just under £1m, which was recouped within the first year. The rest of the cash raised from fines went direct to the Treasury.

Two months ago, Transport Minister John Spellar said that hundreds of cameras at inappropriate sites would have to be removed.

He said they must be sited only at accident blackspots, rather than where they would trap the most motorists.

The scheme is expected to be introduced annually by spring next year.