Combined operation has impact on drivers
AN ongoing operation to tackle serious crime across Staffordshire has seen drivers targeted in a multi-agency crackdown in Burton.
Police officers joined VOSA, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, Trading Standards, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue and East Staffordshire Borough Council staff in Derby Road stopping motorists using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts or driving uninsured vehicles.
A number of commercial vehicles were also checked regarding potential ‘rogue trader’ issues or waste carrying breaches.
More than 50 drivers were caught not wearing a seatbelt.
They were given the opportunity to watch a graphic Fire and Rescue Service road safety video to escape a fixed penalty notice.
Drivers of a black BMW and a flatbed truck were left red faced as their uninsured vehicles were seized and towed away.
Three fixed penalty notices were handed out for tyre offences, two waste carrying licence breaches were discovered and one driver was found to be illegally using red diesel.
The crackdown was part of Operation Impact which was launched to tackle serious acquisitive crime — including burglary, robbery and vehicle crime — across Staffordshire.
Latest figures show these types of crime fell by seven per cent (from 6,762 to 6,279) between April and December 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.
Assistant Chief Constable Julian Blazeby said: “Operation Impact is about targeting criminals involved in burglary, theft and robbery and bringing them to justice.
“Our activity this week is part of routine police work which takes place every day across the force.
“It underlines our warning to criminals that we have the capability and determination to deal with them.”
In January alone around 90 offenders were dealt with by officers for serious crime and 150 such crimes were detected.
As well as this road-side operation, officers have also been checking thousands of cars and other vehicles across Staffordshire to see if owners have left property on display.
Hundreds of letters have been given to motorists as a result to help prevent them becoming victims of theft.
