January 27, 2010
ANPR Operation – Targeting Criminals Using Bedfordshire’s Roads
Bedfordshire Police has been stopping criminals in their tracks using ANPR technology to disrupt and detect those using the county’s roads to commit crime in a major operation today involving more than 200 officers.
Uniformed officers from seven forces and associated agencies were in Luton, the M1 and surrounding areas as part of a large scale regional enforcement operation codenamed ‘Utah’. The use of ANPR forms part of a successful intelligence led, crime fighting and road safety tool. Bedfordshire Police is committed to targeting criminals, not law-abiding motorists, and keeping the roads safe.
During the day ANPR cameras (Automated Number Plate Recognition) identified vehicles that were of interest to the police. Suspected offenders were then intercepted so that drivers could be questioned further.
A total of 129 vehicles were stopped during the operation which ran from 10am to 5pm at Toddington Services (southbound) at junction 12 of the M1, and in Dallow Road, in Luton. There were a total of 10 arrests with further misdemeanours recorded by VOSA, the UK Borders Agency, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, DVLA, HM Courts Warrants and Dept of Work and Pensions who were supporting the operation.
The arrests were for offences including money laundering, following the discovery of £7,000 cash in the glove box of a car, drug related offences, a high value shop theft which had occurred in Derbyshire this morning along with property recovered, possession of false documents, a drunk driver and one person wanted on warrant for non-payment of a fine. In addition, two people were given on the spot fines of £500 for having illegal fuel (red diesel) in their vehicles and 27 people were reported for having no insurance or licence. Two suspected stolen vehicles were also seized.
Superintendent Andy Martin from Bedfordshire’s Roads Policing Unit says the operation has sent a clear message to criminals. He said: “This is not about targeting the law abiding motorist but stopping those who use the roads to commit crime. Burglars, drug dealers and many other types of criminals have cars or access to vehicles that transport them around the country to their next crime. By using intelligence and technology combined we are able to stop them in their tracks.”
‘Utah’ is the name given to the regional operation, which is happening in every county across the Eastern Region throughout 2010. Essex Police has already run the first Operation Utah with Bedfordshire second. Further operations in the surrounding counties are to follow. The forces involved are Suffolk Constabulary, Norfolk Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Police, Essex Police and Thames Valley Police.
For further information visit the ANPR website.
