Thames Valley Police say they have continued to crackdown on drivers using their mobile phones despite national figures which suggested a drop in the number of tickets issued.

It was revealed that forces across England and Wales handed out 40 per cent fewer fines in 2014 compared to 2010.

But TVP officers told the BFP they issued 17 per cent more last year than in 2010, with 10,579 drivers penalised in the force area last year.

TVP spokesman Charlotte Redman said: “It’s really disappointing to see that there are still such high offending levels for mobile phone use. We actively target illegal phone use because we believe this reduces the volume of killed or seriously injured collisions.

“Independent research we commissioned from transport Research Laboratory suggests that using a mobile phone whilst driving can be as dangerous as drink driving - this risk simply isn’t worth it.

“We urge people to not use the phone at all whilst driving- it simply isn’t safe.”

Using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel became illegal in 2003.

The figures for TVP are as follows:

  • 2010 – 9,019
  • 2011 – 11,337
  • 2012 – 11,397
  • 2013 – 11,316
  • 2014 – 10,579

Despite a rise on 2010’s figures, last year’s total fines do show a slight drop on the last three years, when over 11,000 fines were issued each year from 2011 to 2013.

But TVP remains the second highest enforcers of mobile phone offences, after Metropolitan Police who dished out 22,729 last year alone.

Drivers caught using mobile phones at the wheel can be given a fixed penalty notice which costs them a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

There are proposals from the government to double the number of penalty to six.

However, the national figures gathered by the BBC suggest many police forces have offered first-time offenders the chance to attend a road safety course instead.