Road traffic officers need to score 200 points a month

The road policing unit has given its 120 officers "aide-memoire-cards" with a chart apportioning different points for catching different offenders.

They get 10 points for stopping a rapist or robber, but can earn the same number of points by stopping two people not wearing their seatbelts.

Officers are set a monthly target of 200 points.

Pulling over a drink-driver, rapist, robber, burglar or disqualified driver will earn the officer 10 points, while stopping someone using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt scores five points.

ARREST POINTS 50 points Lead role at a fatal accident 10 points Abduction suspect Assault suspect Drink-driving Drugs Offensive weapon Rape suspect Suspected robber 5 points Person wanted for criminal damage Person wanted for harassment Mobile phone offences Public order offences Seatbelt offences 3 points Defective lights 2 points Breach of bail Illegal immigrant Mentally ill person

Officers can earn 50 points, the highest number available, by "taking the lead role at a fatal accident".

The new priority system has been in action since the beginning of April.

A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said the force's roads policing department was the only one in Britain currently using the aide-memoire-cards system.

"It's very popular. It's designed to help officers prioritise their workload," she said.

Supt Mick Doyle, head of roads policing, said in a statement: "Every week in Thames Valley three people die on our roads.

"The system reflects the importance of offences that are the main causes of death on our roads.

"The system was introduced after full consultation with roads policing officers and also helps supervisors assess workloads."