Case Study: Operation Snap
continued...
Website and social media
The law can be confusing, so third party reporting projects could usefully make clear in their external
communications work that (as police officers will look at the full range of possible charges) there’s no need to try
to second guess the specific offence you have detected. A message about the dangers of distraction generally
would be useful for sending a message about drivers not being ‘safe’ from prosecution just because they are
not holding, or can’t be seen holding, a phone.
One piece of communication that would make the work of Operation Snap, and other projects, much easier,
would be to provide information regarding what makes for a ‘good’ (i.e. usable) submission. Submitters, whether
pedestrians with phones, or drivers with mounted dash cams, are likely to benefit from tips on length, clarity of
images, angle of recording etc. that will make it more likely that their efforts in submitting, and police efforts in
processing, the footage, will be rewarded. This should mean less work for officers downstream if people look
here for advice beforehand, or before making a submission, and generate more positive outcomes to report.
It is also important that the project is seen as neutral in your support for all safe road users. This means
ensuring that messages (however communicated) include the good and bad road user behaviour of all
modes. Messages that seem to imply some groups (horse riders, cyclists, van drivers…) are better or worse
than others will soon get picked up (especially via social media) and may alienate particular individuals.
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