Big Brother fears as police unveil speed camera that spies on drivers from almost a MILE away

CHILLING new police tech lets road cops spy on drivers from a THOUSAND meters away as officials step up their fight against speeding.

Police have unveiled a new breed of speed camera capable of recording clear video footage of motorists inside their vehicles as they drive unaware they are being watched.

By the time a diver notices the camera on the roadside, it has already seen them behind the wheel, knows what they are doing in their seat and how fast they are travelling.

Privacy watchdogs warned the intrusive technology could be used to film innocent people who are not breaking traffic laws.

The massive portable camera - dubbed The Long Ranger - was showcased on major A roads linking Gloucestershire and Wiltshire during the launch of pilot project called Operation Indemnis.

Martin Surl, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, said he hoped the kit would catch motorists using their mobile phones.

If the pilot is a success, the camera could be rolled out across the country, with officers using it alongside automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to check what vehicles are on the roads and how they are being driven.

Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the new tech brings the UK one step closer to becoming a "surveillance state".

A spokesperson told The Sun Online: "Police shouldn't be filming innocent people inside their cars, without their knowledge, unless they're suspected of a crime or driving dangerously.

"Our roads are already watched by ANPR cameras that capture over 40 million records of our journeys each day. We are edging dangerously close to becoming a surveillance state."

The operation was launched in a lay-by on the A417 known as Granny's Pumps, which carries an estimated 35,000 vehicles a day and has become an accident hotspot.

Mr Surl said: "This is one of the county's busiest roads which also has one of the worst accident records due to the way it's used.

"Many people have come to me with their concerns about speeding and other safety issues along this road.

"We now have a chance to test a new model of collaborative road policing which, if it proves a success, can be put into practice elsewhere.

"The aim is not just to penalise motorists but to uphold the law by creating a change in people's behaviour. But the police will enforce the law when necessary."

Surl recently funded two additional camera enforcement officers and specialised equipment to reinforce the efforts of community speedwatch groups.

The aim has been to reduce speeding, tailgating and the number of drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt.

Chief Inspector Mark Soderland said: "A core aim of the approach is collaborating wherever possible with other road safety stakeholders."

The team has started with Highways England and the county council and is now approaching groups such as the Motor Insurers Bureau, The Institute of Advanced Motorists and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority to explore what opportunities there might be to work together and improve safety.

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