Richard Brunstrom has led his force's campaign against speeding

Speaking on BBC One's Real Story, Mr Brunstrom was reacting to recent incidents in Northern Ireland and Nottingham where roadside cameras have been blown up.

Mr Brunstrom has been heavily criticised for his zero-tolerance policy on speeding motorists who he has described as "anti-social" and "criminals".

He compared a 71-year-old retired bank manager to a "17-year-old yob" for complaining about being fined after he was caught speeding on camera.

He told Real Story: "We've had things that are effectively terrorist devices, bombs, planted in speed cameras. It's lucky that no-one's been killed yet.

"These are people who as far as I can see would prefer to be allowed to drive dangerously and kill their fellow citizens, or my wife and children, or your family standing next to a bus stop, than pay a fixed penalty ticket for speeding."

Activist

The bombings are the most serious attacks so far in protests that have seen speed cameras across the UK destroyed with saws, angle grinders and paint.

The activist group Motorists Against Detection (MAD) claims responsibility for damage to 700 cameras.

A spokesman for MAD told Real Story that only cameras in isolated rural locations would be targeted by explosives.

"In a deserted place miles from anyone the only person they (the bombers) are going to hurt is themselves," he said.

The Real Story programme is a special investigation into speed cameras and asks if they are life savers or money-making machines that actually cause accidents

Real Story us due to be screened on Monday 17November at 1930 GMT on BBC One and streamed live on the Real Story website.