Police forces have been accused of deliberately targeting motorists to raise revenue, after it emerged they are to receive an extra £12 million a year from speed awareness courses.

More than a million drivers each year now opt to attend one of the schemes, meaning they do not have to pay a speeding fine and can avoid having points added to their licence.

Under the current system, police forces are not supposed to generate any income from the courses, but receive a flat fee to cover their costs.

Last month that figure increased from £35 to £45 meaning forces will generate at least £12 million extra each year.

With thousands more speed cameras being rolled out across the country, that figure is set to soar as more motorists are caught going too fast on the roads.

Critics of the system last night poured scorn on the idea that police forces were not making money out of the courses and said they were being "incentivised to pursue drivers.