Over 50 vehicles checked during Red Lodge multi-agency day of action

Five people were arrested and over 50 vehicles were checked during a multi-agency day of action at Red Lodge.

The operation took place yesterday (Thursday, August 1) with the aim of disrupting and frustrating the activities of criminals, including organised crime groups, who commit offences across county borders whilst using the road network.

Vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality were brought back to a check site at a car park at The Pines school car park in Red Lodge, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.

The operation was carried-out by officers under the banner of Operational Sentinel with the Scorpion Team, Roads and Armed Policing Team, Road Casualty Reduction Team, Police Dog Unit and Commercial Vehicle Unit.

So far under the Op Sentinel banner since the team was launched in late May the team has made just under 70 arrests.

The team provide enhanced coverage of Suffolk’s road network to proactively disrupt serious and organised criminal activity as well as increasing police visibility.

Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Waveney Norse.

A total of 58 vehicles were escorted back to the site, with just 11 leaving clear of any offences.

Five people were arrested for seven offences. Four people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving offences and a further person on suspicion of possession of criminal property, one for on suspicion of possession of cannabis and on suspicion of drug driving.

A total of 36 Traffic Offence Reports were issued for various offences including the following: four for not wearing a seatbelt; three for no MoT; six for number plate offences; nine for no insurance and two for defective tyres.

Seven vehicles were seized for no insurance and two vehicles were issued with defect rectification notices.

The DVSA issued seven immediate police prohibitions, 11 delayed prohibitions and 15 advisory notices.

Sergeant Julian Ditcham, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “This was another excellent day of action and is a follow on from the day of action we held in Ipswich last week for similar criminality and road offences The fact remains if you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and it is not fit for the road or you are committing an offence you are potentially proving to be an irresponsible driver putting yourself and other motorists in danger because you are breaking the law or because you vehicle isn’t roadworthy. We simply won’t tolerate such narrow minded and irresponsible behaviour.

“We hold these operations across the county on a regular basis and will continue to do so, both to target any criminals who may be travelling through Suffolk, but also to remove unsafe vehicles and people driving illegally, making our roads and county as a whole safer for everyone.”

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “These very visible, proactive days of action are an excellent example of partners working together to keep us all safe. It never fails to amaze me how many drivers are on our roads in an unfit state or driving a vehicle unfit for the road. I fully support these multi-agency days and I know I speak on behalf of my RoadSafe partners when I applaud the work of everyone involved.

“I’m pleased to see that these events will continue across the county on a regular basis. Keeping our road network safe and free-flowing is so important.”