NEARLY 33,000 speeding motorists were caught in North Wales during the last five months, the Daily Post can reveal. The figure represents a big increase on last year as the controversial anti-speeding blitz targeted more roads. The tally, from April, will raise at least £1.6m for the Government and for further speeding initiatives in the region. Last year £3.2m was raised in fines from 53,488 motorists. The figures come as Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom faces increasing criticism of his crusade against speeding. Some have accused him of concentrating too much on motorists and not enough on other crimes after burglary detection rates plummeted to a record low in April. The dramatic increase in speeding tickets was accounted for by the doubling of routes covered by the anti-speed campaign, Arrive Alive. An Arrive Alive spokeswoman said: "The nine mobile cameras are now deployed over 53 routes, about 10 pc of the North Wales road network, which is roughly double the routes for last year." Last year about 4,000 speeding offences a month were detected by cameras in North Wales. This year 5,970 were recorded in April; 7,702 in May; 7,009 in June; 6,426 in July and 5,226, as yet unconfirmed, in August. The controversy over North Wales' hard-line approach surfaced again yesterday with reports that suggest speed cameras are improving safety. Durham Constabulary, with no fixed speed cameras, had a 56pc increase in road deaths, compared with North Wales where deaths were down 13pc. Other forces with speed cameras reported a drop in road deaths - between 31pc and 67pc in some areas. Accident figures for North Wales, available to June, show five deaths in April, five in May and two in June. Only one was on an Arrive Alive road. Serious accident figures show 18 in April, 26 in May and 37 in June. Only 24 were on the Arrive Alive routes. With 44 deaths last year, it is claimed the North Wales figures support the case for speed cameras. But Durham police last night disputed their anti-camera policy was related to increased road deaths. A spokesman said: "If you look at our fatality figures over a longer period you will see that since 1995 there has been a 25pc overall reduction in deaths. Last year's figure of 42, which was a 56pc increase, was an inexplicable blip." Durham believes cameras alienate drivers. Out of the 33,000 motorists who were caught by speed cameras in North Wales between April and August about 27,000 will face prosecution. Around 18pc miss fines because they were drivers from abroad, emergency vehicles who set off the cameras, or simply were untraceable. * POLICE caught 57 motorists drinking and driving in North Wales in two weeks over the hot summer in spite of a campaign aimed at preventing it. | 
