Malvern police are cracking down on speeding and poor driving in and around Pendock.

And they’re doing so using cameras fixed to the front of bicycles.

Officers say the focus comes after a number of reports of dangerous driving through the village, which is between Ledbury and Tewkesbury but part of the Malvern Hills district.

The police say they also witnessed “very poor driving and high speeds” first-hand while attending a crash in the area.

“After some discussions with local residents, we have begun cycle patrols in the area as part of Operation Close Pass,” said PC Dave Olczak, of the Pickersleigh and Chase Safer Neighbourhood Team.

READ MORE: Dash-cam footage of offences led to 100 police prosecutions

“[This is] an initiative where our police cyclists have cameras on the front and rear of their bikes to capture poor or dangerous driving. We then deal with the drivers accordingly.

“You can expect to see more of us around Pendock and the surrounding villages over the next few months. 

“Depending on the severity of the manner of driving witnessed by the officer, they may receive a warning letter or a notice of intended prosecution for driving offences.”

Operation Close Pass is designed to target motorists who ignore the Highway Code when overtaking cyclists.

Motorists who do not leave enough space when overtaking will be recorded and the offence dealt with.

The Highway Code states the minimum distance drivers must give a cyclist when passing them in a car at 30mph is 1.5 metres, more when overtaking at higher speeds.

A similar initiative, Operation Snap, encourages motorists to submit dashcam footage of driving offences.

Offences include driving dangerously or carelessly, overtaking on solid white lines, using a mobile phone while driving, ignoring traffic lights and dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists.

West Mercia Police received 390 submissions from Operations Snap in May and these led to 100 prosecutions.