Nationwide arrests for dangerous drivers identified by Warwickshire Police

During 2024 a number of UK police forces stopped 176 high harm road users first identified by the Warwickshire Road Safety Unit for speeding offences.

Here in Warwickshire, we undertook investigations that showed some drivers not only had no regard for road safety requirements imposed by the law, but they were also using our roads for even more serious crimes.

We launched Op Tenacity to find the drivers who we believed were intentionally trying to avoid detection and accountability for speeding and other crimes such as use of firearms, drugs, serious assaults, offensive weapons, immigration offences, burglaries and theft.

These dangerous road users needed to be stopped.

During 2024:

• We put markers on 736 vehicles so that all UK forces could see they were wanted for road related offences if they crossed into their regions;
• 176 vehicles were stopped by 27 different police forces all over the UK;
• We made 30 arrests;
• We processed 540 outstanding speeding offences;
• We seized 96 vehicles and removed them from the roads.

Simon Setchell of Warwickshire Road Safety Unit said: “This is just the start.  Already this year, we’ve stopped 44 drivers more drivers, resulting in ten more arrests, 22 vehicles seized and 62 notices for speeding offences.

"For most of these ‘high harm’ drivers, it could mean instant disqualification as each speeding offence could attract three points and a fine along with the offence of no insurance that will result in the vehicle being seized.  

"The message to people who are committing crimes and think they can avoid detection? We’re using all our means to identify you, and in partnership with police forces across the country, we’ll find you and bring you to justice."