SCENE of crime officer Ian Saunders has his own views on the number of fatal accidents currently beleaguering our Wiltshire roads, and one word sums them up speed.

His role within Wiltshire Police force is to attend serious and fatal road traffic accidents to record the scene for the investigation officers and the courts.

He said: "We have to cover and record every aspect of the accident scene for the accident investigation officer, and our material is used for the coroner if the accident has resulted in a death."

In his job within Wiltshire's C division, Mr Sauders has seen countless accidents.

He said: "I tend to see all the serious and fatal accidents, and this year we have had an alarming number of them.

Whenever he is tasked to a road accident, Mr Saunders prepares to spend up to three hours to record the accident scene.

Training for his role was extensive. He attended an eleven-week residential course at the Scenes of Crime college in Durham, and has to attend annual training seminars in crime scene techniques because a road traffic accident can, potentially, also be a crime scene.

He said: "Photographing an accident scene involves a lot of work.

"We are tasked to every serious and fatal accident within minutes of it happening and our job is to record every aspect of the accident from skid marks and road markings to the wrecked cars.

"Our material goes with the Accident Prevention Units readings to compile a detailed accident report."

Mr Saunders has to be equipped with not only cameras and specialist film but lighting, marker boards, safety equipment and evidence collecting bags.

He said: "Road blocks would have been set up by the time we arrive, and our job starts once the casualties have been moved.

"For our pictures we have to have a clear scene, without anyone in them."

Mr Saunders' views on

the accidents he sees are clear.

"We get to see a lot of accidents, and it is only my own personal view, but it is speed that results in fatal accidents as a rule."

But together with many others is the Wiltshire force, Mr Sauders does not have an answer as to why Wiltshire has had more than its share of serious accidents this year.

In the year up to the end of August, there have been 23 deaths and 155 serious road accidents in C division alone.