MORE THAN 20,000 drivers in Gwent were caught speeding by police in the last three months, the Argus can reveal.

The figures are for the three months since Gwent Police joined a new speed enforcement system - and have led to a minimum £1.2 million in fines.

In the three months before the system was introduced, about 3,000 motorists were stopped for speeding in Gwent.

Police say that in the crackdown drivers were also charged with contravening traffic signs, dangerous driving and driving without due care and attention.

Gwent Police joined forces with Dyfed Powys and South Wales forces in a unique bid to cut the number of casualties on Welsh roads.

A spokeswoman for the partnership said: "Although the figures may initially appear high, the three month period has seen a gradual downward trend through a combination of education and enforcement initiatives.

"In April 10,200 people were caught for speeding, in May 6,500 and in June 4,500. "St Luke's Road in Pontypool has seen the average number of recorded offences drop from 70 to 16 per hour since April."

The average fine for a first offence of speeding is around £60 - rising for each repeat offence.

That means at least £1.2 million in fines taken by the Gwent force - with part of the money going to cover the costs of speed cameras and the rest to the government. Under the scheme:

Mobile speed cameras are used in highly visible areas with warning and speed limit reminders within 1,000 metres of fixed and mobile camera sights.

The sites for speed tests are selected in relation to the number of injury accidents during the previous three years.

The number of officers in Gwent now dealing with speeding has risen from four to seven. Mobile speed cameras operate at eight sites in Newport. There are nine each in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent and 10 each in Monmouthshire and Caerphilly.

Chief Constable Keith Turner says public support is essential for the scheme to work. In a report to the Gwent Police Association he said: "We appreciate that there may be a demand for cameras to operate where there is not a history of speed- related collisions but there should be corroboration of these concerns by speed analysis and/or letters of concern.

"Site and visit frequency must be identified by agreement between the relevant unitary authority and the Assembly for Trunk Roads."

Roadwork sites such as the A449/A40 have speed enforcement almost daily to protect the road workers - even though the sites do not fall into the criteria.