Proactive operation on motorway network leads to nine arrests

A special operation aimed at cracking down on crime across the county’s motorway networks has seen nine people arrested and multiple vehicles seized.

The operation, which involved officers from our Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT), Rural Crime Team, Specials, and our Operational Policing Unit (OPU), took place in Warwickshire between Tuesday 11 July and Thursday 13 July.

Part of a wider national ANPR operation led by Hertfordshire Police, it was also supported by Thames Valley Police, British Transport Police, Bedfordshire Police and the Met.

Vehicles were stopped between 7pm and midnight over three nights with officers carrying out a range of checks on drivers to try and identify criminality. Immigration and vehicle safety checks were also performed.

Of the vehicles stopped on 11 July, two people were arrested – one for immigration offences and another for failing to appear at court, for having no insurance, and having no licence.

On the same night, several stops were carried out with warnings given for having no insurance and careless driving.

The following evening (12 July) a further three people were arrested – the first for having no driving licence, giving false details, and driving while disqualified, a second for being wanted in connection with drug offences and a third for possession of a class B drug and driving while under the influence of drugs.

Drivers were also stopped for having no insurance while one was found to be driving on a provisional licence.

The final evening of the operation resulted in four arrests – one for driving a stolen vehicle, one for immigration offences and having no insurance and two for possession with intent to supply, failing to stop and driving dangerously.

Overall, the operation, which included several pursuits, led to:

• nine arrests
• 17 vehicles being seized
• three stolen vehicles being recovered and
• a stolen trailer being recovered

Sergeant Richard Jenkins said: “Although people may not realise it, motorways are often used by local and cross-border offenders and organised crime groups to commit crime in stolen or cloned vehicles.

“The aim of this operation was to work with partners to detect and ultimately, stop those who are using the roads and motorway networks to commit crime in Warwickshire.

“By carrying out proactive patrols and stop searches using intelligence, we were able to identify and disrupt a number of potential offenders and organised crime groups in our area.

“All in all, it was an extremely productive operation and I’m very proud of the teams who took part for their hard work and commitment to making it such a success.”