Criminals
Denied The Use Of Welsh Roads
South Wales Police arrested 27 people and seized
80 vehicles in an ANPR exercise on Thursday 17th July, which cracked down
on travelling criminals and denied them the use of our roads.
The ANPR exercise resulted in:
* 285 vehicles stopped
* 27 arrests
* 48 vehicles tested on roadside drug analysis device
* 8 persons tested on roadside fingerprint device, 3 false name giving
identified
* 63 vehicle seizures for offences ranging from being uninsured, or used
without a driving licence, 21 other vehicles found to have committed a
variety of road traffic offences, 17 seized for example for no vehicle
excise licence, or as unroadworthy
* HM Customs seized 65000 cigarettes and found 3 vehicles on red diesel
* Department for Works and Pensions cautioned 10 people re benefit offences
People were arrested for:
* Money laundering offences – total of approx £30,000 in suspicious
money was confiscated
* Possession of drugs – heroin and cannabis were recovered
* Disqualified driving
* Theft of motor vehicle offences
* Assault
* Carrying an offensive weapon
On 17th July South Wales Police worked with a number of partner agencies
which include:
Avon and Somerset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, South Wales Police,
Dorset Police, Wiltshire Constabulary, Gwent Police, Devon and Cornwall
Constabulary, will be involved in the operation, with support from the
DVLA, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Vehicle and Operator Services
Agency (VOSA), Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) and the Highways Agency.
Superintendent Liane James from South Wales Police’s Roads Policing
Unit said,
'With ANPR, there is literally nowhere to hide – we use mobile as
well as fixed units, meaning criminals can never second guess when we
are watching. By joining up with our neighbouring forces and key support
agencies, the message is that there are no boundaries for criminals in
the South West and Wales.
'ANPR technology means we can identify people wanted for a whole range
of offences, from possession of drugs to benefit fraud and disqualified
drivers.'
Speaking about the sophisticated partnership work between key agencies
during the week-long operation, Superintendent James added,
'Bringing together the collaborative work and the expertise of partner
agencies means we can deal with the whole range of offences on site and
no challenge is too big.'
ANPR systems instantly check up to 3,000 vehicles an hour against various
databases of intelligence. This includes information provided by police
officers, Crimestoppers, the DVLA and other forces about vehicles used
by disqualified drivers, people wanted on warrant and those who are suspected
of committing crime.
If a suspicious vehicle is identified by ANPR, police units intercept
to carry out checks on the vehicle and occupants. The expertise of other
agencies including the Border and Immigration Agency and HM Revenue and
Customs can then be called on.
Background information:
* Operation Eagle includes the July 17th ANPR operation and a 2-day blitz
on crime in Cardiff on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th.
* Operation Eagle was targeting serious and acquisitive (Class A drugs)
crime.
