New Portsmouth speed camera on Eastern Road is targeted in arson attack

Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has vowed that whoever is behind arson attacks on the speed camera in Portsmouth will be brought to justice.

Firefighters were called out at Sunday lunchtime to the Eastern Road, where there are two new cameras between the junctions for Tangier Road and Hayling Avenue.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue says it was called to the camera which is on the corner of Sword Sands Road, on the Hayling Avenue side of the road. Fire officers told police about the incident, because the fire is thought to have been started deliberately.

The fire service said it was called at 12.30pm “following reports of a fire involving a roadside electrical box containing a speed camera”. It said that multiple calls were made to 999 about the blaze. They put out the fire, and set up a cordon around the camera, and left at 1pm.

Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “This appears to be deliberate criminal damage and a police investigation is taking place. The people who did this will be found and dealt with.

"They are undermining safety efforts and ultimately putting lives at risk."

The fire service said on its log that only one fire was recorded at that time. There is also fire service tape and police tape on the new camera on the Milton Common side of the road.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We were called just after 1pm on Sunday to a report of a suspected arson incident on Eastern Road, after the fire service put out a fire in an electrical box near a speed camera. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause and assess any potential damage caused. Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 44260170210.”

Reactions were mixed on The News’ Facebook after we reported the story. One person posting as Jezza John said: “Like they say, don't speed and you won't get a ticket. Well I say don't put a camera up and it won't get burnt.”

But the other school of thought was also represented, with Tony Brown writing: “Don't speed, not an issue. Speed limits are there for a reason, no matter how annoying they are...”