Stammtisch

24th Febuary 2010

Help the police to help you.  Sounds a little odd but there are a hardcore of police officers up and down the length of the country who are going out of their way to help the Great British truck driver and operator, who are suffering in the face of unscrupulous companies and foreign operators.

Why are we doing this, well because we think you're worth it, and how are we doing this?  Well in a number of ways, but by far the most innovative are the Stammtisch meetings that are set up on the first Wednesday of every month. 

Originally a German idea in 2000, the initiative was brought over to the UK by Sergeant Dick Golding of the Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Education Unit, who held a series of simultaneous events around the M25 ring in 2006.

The idea is to provide truckers with access to police officers who know their industry and the problems they face on a daily basis.  Working from a van or other suitable vehicle the officers can provide up to the minute advice on legal issue's and if necessary training to solve basic errors in understanding particularly when new legislation is introduced.

Increasing trust and confidence in the way policing is delivered to the commercial vehicle industry is the key aim.  PC Steve Rounds, Commercial Vehicle lead at the Central Motorway Police Group started his own Stammtisch after a chance meeting with Sergeant Golding in November 2008 and since then, 17 forces across the country have joined the scheme, with more joining all the time. 

PC Steve Rounds said "This is a police only initiative where a more pragmatic approach is taken by experienced officers, using their discretion.  Rather than prosecuting a driver for offences committed because that driver genuinely doesn't understand the law, the police will act as trainers to fill the knowledge gap." 

One of the early successes for the scheme was highlighting the fact that a national petro-chemical haulier had failed to train their drivers fully in digital tachographs, leaving the drivers totally unaware of how to put manual entries into their Stoneridge machines.  By visiting the firm, the police were able to put the problem right with the company for the benefit of all drivers. 

PC Steve Rounds recalls another incident "A driver in a Renault Magnum came into one of our Stammtisch meetings in the Midlands and after a brief conversation with me showed me how his windscreen that was cracked top to bottom, right through his line of view.  The company had refused to repair it until it was next due in for service, which was another three weeks away, so rather than issue a ticket or summons I gave the driver a PG9.  This solved his problem because his company had to get the defect repaired and he could 'blame' it onto the police!

Stammtisch events are now operating across the country on the first Wednesday of every month.  To find out more about Stammtisch events and to find your nearest meeting go to www.stammtisch.webs.com