Roads Policing
High-visibility patrols, enforcement and response across major roads and strategic routes.
United Kingdom Police Service
Roads and Transport Policing Command
Keeping London's roads, transport networks and communities safe through proactive policing, enforcement and partnership working.
Roads policing for a safer United Kingdom
Protecting people on the move
The Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) is responsible for tackling crime and disorder on the UK's roads while improving road safety for all road users.
Our officers patrol major roads, urban routes and transport corridors, responding to serious collisions, dangerous driving, vehicle crime and other offences that place the public at risk.
The Command works closely with local policing teams, transport authorities, emergency services and specialist partners to prevent harm and provide an effective response when incidents occur.
From everyday road safety enforcement to complex operations targeting organised criminality, RTPC officers provide a highly visible and proactive policing presence across the communities we serve.
Our responsibilities
RTPC officers undertake a wide range of specialist policing and enforcement activity across the road and transport network.
Collision Investigation
Investigating serious and fatal road collisions and working to establish how incidents occurred.
Dangerous Driving
Tackling offences including excessive speed, careless and dangerous driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Roads Crime Operations
Working with partner agencies to identify unsafe vehicles and address serious roadworthiness and compliance offences.
Public Safety Operations
Providing specialist policing support for major events, incidents and operations affecting the road network.
At a glance
- 24/7
- Roads policing
- 24/7
- Emergency response
- 365
- Days a year
- RTPC
- Specialist command
Specialist policing capability operating around the clock
Officers available to respond to serious road incidents
Operational coverage throughout the year
Dedicated roads and transport policing capability
Our Divisions
RTPC brings together officers with specialist skills and experience in road policing, investigation and operational response.
Advanced Trained Drivers
Specialist officers providing high-visibility patrols and responding to serious road incidents.
Read MoreInterceptor
Read MorePanther
Read MoreCollision Investigation Unit
Specialist investigators responsible for examining serious and fatal collisions.
Read MoreScorpion
Highly trained bike police.
Read MoreCommercial Vehicle Unit
Officers specialising in the enforcement of commercial and heavy goods vehicle legislation.
Read MoreVisible, proactive policing
RTPC officers provide a highly visible presence across the road network. Patrol activity is designed to deter offending, identify dangerous behaviour and provide a rapid response to incidents where specialist roads-policing skills are required. Officers use a combination of proactive patrols, intelligence-led operations and partnership activity to identify the routes, behaviours and individuals that present the greatest risk to the public.
How roads policing worksMaking roads safer
Road safety is at the heart of the Command's work. RTPC works to reduce collisions and prevent deaths and serious injuries by tackling the behaviours that create the greatest risk to road users. This includes enforcement against dangerous and inappropriate speed, impaired driving, mobile phone use, unsafe manoeuvres and other offences that can have serious consequences. Enforcement is supported by education, engagement and partnership initiatives designed to encourage safer behaviour.
Road safety informationTackling crime on the road network
The road network is used by criminals to move people, vehicles, drugs, weapons and illicit goods. RTPC works to disrupt that activity.
Roads policing provides an important opportunity to identify and disrupt criminal activity that might otherwise go undetected. RTPC officers work with intelligence teams and local policing commands to identify vehicles, individuals and routes associated with criminal activity. Where appropriate, officers may conduct targeted operations, vehicle stops and enforcement activity based on intelligence and observed behaviour. The Command also supports wider investigations where vehicles or the road network form an important part of criminal activity.
Working with our partners
Effective roads policing depends on close cooperation between policing, emergency services, transport organisations and local communities.
Local Policing Commands
Sharing intelligence and coordinating responses to incidents that cross policing boundaries.
United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Service
Working together at serious collisions, vehicle fires and other incidents on the road network.
United Kingdom Ambulance Service
Supporting the emergency response to casualties and serious road incidents.
National Transport Police
Coordinating activity where policing operations affect major transport routes.
Road Safety Partnerships
Supporting education, prevention and initiatives designed to reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Our operational priorities
RTPC focuses its resources on the areas where roads policing can have the greatest impact on public safety and crime. ➤ Dangerous driving ➤ Drink and drug driving ➤ Excessive and inappropriate speed ➤ Mobile phone and distracted driving ➤ Serious road collisions ➤ Vehicle-enabled crime ➤ Organised criminal activity ➤ Unsafe and unroadworthy vehicles
Frequently asked questions
RTPC provides specialist policing across the road and transport network, including road safety enforcement, collision investigation, vehicle crime operations and support to major policing operations.
Police officers may stop vehicles where permitted under applicable road traffic and policing powers. Drivers should comply with lawful directions from police officers.
Specialist RTPC officers may investigate serious and fatal collisions, working alongside other emergency services and investigative teams.
Yes. Speed-related offending is one of the areas addressed through roads-policing enforcement and road-safety operations.
Members of the public can report dangerous or suspicious driving through the appropriate UKPS reporting channels, or calling 101. If there is an immediate risk to life or a serious incident in progress, call 999.
No. Officers may operate across the road network, with resources directed according to incidents, intelligence, operational requirements and local risk.