Gwent Police officers teamed up with partner agencies on Wednesday 19th January to run a one day operation to target scrap metal thieves and road traffic offences across the force area.
The multi agency operation enlisted the assistance of representatives from Customs and Excise, Department of Work and Pensions and the Environment Agency.
In total 239 vehicles were stopped throughout the day – results included:
- 116 referrals to the Department for Work and Pensions
- 6 vehicles seized for no insurance/driving license offences
- 8 fixed penalty notices issued for various road traffic offences including not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving
- 1 customs seizure for illegal alcohol and tobacco
- 1 person arrested for failing to answer police bail
Road Policing Sgt Micah Hassell who coordinated the operation said:
“This operation is one of a series being run over the next 6 months to specifically target scrap metal and road traffic offences.
“We are utilising intelligence and conducting high visibility roadside checks to identify offenders and raise awareness of how seriously we take these offences in Gwent.
“This kind of operation enables officers to identify a wide range of offences by just stopping vehicles and speaking to drivers at the roadside. We have systems and technology at our fingertips to conduct checks on numerous databases so the chances of any criminal activity going undetected is extremely slim.
“Gwent Police will continue to take a proactive approach to identify offences being committed by road users 365 days a year and ask that anyone with information relating to this type of criminal activity contacts us on 01633 838111.”
