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The agency responds
"IT IS TRUE that the system encourages examiners to find prohibitions, but this is just part of the process. Education and advice are an important part of our work and attract PG points. Line managers would not expect an examiner's time to [be spent] solely on either education or enforcement activity.
"We are aware of the issue [of harsher treatment by examiners in order to hit targets]. We carry out extensive quality assurance checks on our prohibitions. We do however recognise that there may be a small number of cases where examiners interpret guidance wrongly we are reviewing our quality assurance system to achieve greater consistency.
"We cherish our reputation and risk losing it if we are not fair.
"Vosa adopts a 'light touch' approach to the enforcing of new legislation when appropriate, and will be applying an educational approach to speed-limiter enforcement. It is anticipated that this will remain until January 2008 when the full requirements of the changes to Construction and Use come into effect.
"The e-mail you possess should not be interpreted as a departure from this policy [of balancing enforcement and education].
"We do have a target to increase the percentage of vehicles we prohibit but this is solely through better targeting.
-Examiners can [also] gain credit from:
• Visits to all new operators to provide education and support; • Visits to established operators to deliver