Police stop rogue vehicles
A MAN was arrested for driving while disqualified and for possessing Class A drugs under a crackdown on motorists who break the law.
Police officers stopped more than 50 vehicles in the Newcastle area yesterday as part of Operation Utah.
The initiative saw dozens of officials from police, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the UK Border Force transform Wolstanton Retail Park into a vehicle checking and holding area.
And the owners of 32 vehicles were found to have committed offences ranging from driving with no tax, defective tyres, or with light, windscreen and window defects.
Nine uninsured vehicles were seized and taken to recovery garages. Their owners now face fines running to hundreds of pounds and having six points on their licences.
Sergeant Stephen Holt, right, who co-ordinated the operation, hailed the crackdown as a success.
He said: "We have targeted criminals through the use of their vehicles; the operation is not aimed at targeting motorists per se.
"All cars that passed automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were automatically checked for outstanding fines, being suspected for a crime, and for tax and insurance. If they were flagged up, we pulled them over.
"We are very pleased with the results."
Around 70 officers from Staffordshire Police's road crime team were operating in the area yesterday, escorting vehicles from main routes to the checking area.
Roads targeted included both directions of the A500, the A527 Porthill Bank and A50 link road towards Tunstall.
Officers also pulled over vans and cars which did not appear roadworthy during the operation.
Sgt Holt added: "Our ANPR is able to check the car against a variety of databases which we can then act on.
"We set up in Wolstanton as we are on a main route through the city, close to the M6.
"We have the power to seize uninsured cars and that carries a £200 fine, along with a £150 fee to have the car back."
PC James Ralph, from the Protective Services Division, was one of the officers based at the retail park.
He said: "You will find motorists without insurance don't tend to stop following a collision so it's important we catch these people."
The UK Border Force's Staffordshire acting team chief Carl Mason said: "It is the role of the police to identify any foreign nationals that they would like us to investigate and check if they are here illegally.
"These sort of operations are what the public demand, as it's cracking down on criminals travelling on the city's roads."
5 Comments
by Michael, Stoke
Monday, March 01 2010, 3:35PM
“It seems to me that the police are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Anyone unlucky enough to be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or someone whose car was unsafe will quite rightly complain about it.
And yet, when the police do something to catch people driving illegally, people moan.
And, Violet, could I just ask: Why would ANPR flag up a vehicle unless there is something suspicious about it, and how can people confess to a crime that hasn't been committed?”
by paul, wolstanton
Saturday, February 27 2010, 6:04PM
“well done staffordshire police about time those who have no insurance or tax were caught.Maybe it can be extended to cars with incorrect number plates either small or bunched up lettering which in the case of accidents are difficult to read”
by Violet, Staffordshire
Saturday, February 27 2010, 5:58PM
“It's fairly obvious that if they scrutinise any vehicle closely enough they will find a "defect" if that is what they are directed to do.
ANPR will often flag up a vehicle even if all of your papers are indeed in order,which will lead to you being locked in the back of a police car whilst they attempt to get a confession to crimes that have not been committed.
Fred will no doubt change his mind about the Stasi-style checkpoints when he finds himself treated as a criminal,and perhaps even has his car unlawfully confiscated by these modern-day highwaymen.”
by Fred, stoke
Saturday, February 27 2010, 4:26PM
“Violet, I got no problm passing through any check points as I have all the paper work. people who drive without tax or any other proper paperwork are criminals as they are breaking the law.”
by Violet, Staffordshire
Saturday, February 27 2010, 2:42PM
“How long before we are forced to pass through these Stasi style roadblocks and checkpoints on a daily basis?”