IT'S likely to have been a popular present under the tree this year and now Wales’ police forces are asking drivers to put their new dash cams to good use.

Dash cams record as people drive and have grown increasingly popular and are often used in insurance claims.

But now, as part of Operation Snap, members of the public can submit footage and images showing traffic offences being committed – from driving dangerously or carelessly to contravening solid white lines, using a mobile phone while driving or ignoring traffic lights.

Initially devised and piloted by the GoSafe unit in North Wales Police and the Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, the operation has now been introduced Wales-wide.

The joint initiative between the four Welsh police forces, GoSafe and the Crown Prosecution Service, has attracted support from Cycling UK and The British Horse Society as well as a number of families who have lost loved ones as the result of a road traffic offence.

Among them is Alison Jones, whose 77-year-old uncle David Howells was killed as he crossed a road on Black Friday in 2016.

Mrs Jones said: “The impact of David’s death has been devastating and I want people to be aware of how their actions behind the wheel can ruin families’ lives. How just rushing to work or getting in the car and using your mobile phone can have such a huge and lasting impact.

“For us, the fact that someone decided to take their eyes off the road, for whatever reason, took away someone we loved dearly. It was so needless and we have to live with that forever.”

South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable, Jeremy Vaughan, said: “Operation Snap enables people to submit footage of motoring offences to all Welsh police forces, allowing us take action, change attitudes and deal with those who compromise all our safety on our roads.

“Following a trial phase, a number of improvements were made including the way in which footage can now be submitted. This is now a very simple and streamlined process.

“This provides us with the ability target those who drive dangerously and reduce the number of fatal or serious road related accidents that occur on our roads.

“If you have recorded anyone driving dangerously, then you can help us by submitting your footage online. By supporting this operation you are reminding those that drive dangerously on Wales’ roads that there is nowhere to hide.”

Inspector Steve Davies who delivered Operation Snap on behalf of South Wales Police stated, “Police officers cannot be everywhere, as much as they try, but with Operation Snap the police could be anywhere.

“The aim of this initiative is to change driver behaviour and their mind-set behind the wheel. We want drivers to ask themselves two questions: firstly, am I being recorded? and secondly, do I really want to take that chance?”

Superintendent Huw Meredith, Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “The widespread use of mobile technology by the public presents opportunities to capture evidence of poor driving which would have previously been unreported." Operation Snap allows mobile phone or dashcam footage to be digitally sent to GoSafe who will assess the evidence and where appropriate, take action against drivers who are putting other road users at risk or in danger.

Dyfed-Powys Police are committed to working in partnership with Go Safe and the other police forces in Wales to make our roads as safe as possible and reduce the number of collisions and casualties.”

To submit footage to any of the Welsh Police Forces, see: gosafesnap.wales/ or gosafesnap.cymru