Operation tackles illegal vehicles

19 October 2011

Nearly 90 vehicles were stopped at the end of last week in a national campaign which targets commercial lorries, vans and trucks being used illegally.

In the first joint Norfolk and Suffolk Road Policing initiative, Operation Mermaid Five, held at Jupiter Road in Norwich on Thursday 13 October and Rougham Lorry Park in Bury St Edmunds on Friday 14 October 2011, saw officers work in conjunction with the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Intercept Team as well as partner agencies including VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency), HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) Road Fuel Testing Unit, UK Border Agency (UKBA) and Trading Standards to target all kinds of crime involving vehicles.

Of the 87 vehicles which were escorted to the check sites; several were issued with advisory notices, ten Immediate Prohibitions were issued, 20 Delayed Prohibitions were issued and five vehicles was seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act for offences of no insurance and driving other than in accordance with a licence.

Additionally, 34 fixed penalty notices were issued for offences including use of seat belts, tinted windows, defective tyres and lights, being in a dangerous condition and use of a mobile phone. One man was arrested for over-staying in the United Kingdom and three vehicles were seized with full tanks of red diesel. In Suffolk, officers from Trading Standards also made several enquiries with local traders with ten follow up enquires recorded regarding trade registration and deception (rogue traders).

Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, Roads Policing, welcomed the operation saying: “This initiative can be viewed as a success with officers from across the agencies sending a positive and firm message to road users within our counties that we are working together to detect and deal with offenders on the roads of Norfolk and Suffolk.”