Road operation targeted "fatal four"

Police and partner agencies targeted a range of motoring offences during an operation today (June 13).

Operation Alliance took place from 10am in the area of Brampton Hut junction on the A1 and tackled the so-called “fatal four” - speeding, mobile phones, seatbelts, and drink and drug driving.

As well as the Beds, Cambs and Herts road policing unit, officers from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex forces were involved, supported by various agencies including UK Border Agency, HMRC, Department for Work and Pensions, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Trading Standards.

They conducted checks on vehicles, people suspected of committing motoring offences or crime and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) was in operation.

More than 40 vehicles were stopped and 16 traffic offence reports issued for offences including not wearing a seatbelt, no insurance, mobile phone use and illegal number plate.

Four warnings were issued for cannabis possession and one arrest was made for possession of a section 5 firearm, namely CS spray.

Insp Rebecca Rowley-Smith, from the tri-force road policing unit, said: “This operation aimed to remind people of the importance of driving within the law and avoiding those offences that put lives at risk.

“We also wanted to disrupt criminals using the main arterial routes through the county and the day was very productive.”