PCC praises successful multi-agency operation

Six people were arrested, more than 50 vehicles were stopped and over 60 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, during a multi-agency day of action in Ipswich last week.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This proactive operation has truly lived up to its name; the results clearly show it was an action-packed day.
“The officers achieved some tremendous results, proving the worth of these events aimed at keeping criminals and defective vehicles off our county’s roads.
“I fully support these multi-agency days of action, keeping Suffolk’s roads safe and free-flowing is crucially important to all of us living and working in the county, and our Roads Policing Team has a pivotal role in helping to achieve this.
“I would like to congratulate the Constabulary and all the agencies who worked hard to make this joint operation such a success, I believe the results speak for themselves.”

The operation took place on Tuesday 26 August, 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.  This was intelligence-led and involved vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality being brought back to a check site in the car park at Sainsbury’s on Hadleigh Road, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.
Officers are also focused on all-round road safety and the fatal four offences of: drink/drug driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt.
Anyone suspected of committing any of these offences was also stopped, along with people driving vehicles which were unroadworthy or had a defect. All of these actions serve towards making the county’s roads safer and reduce the likelihood of someone being killed or seriously injured by an illegally/unsafely driven or defective vehicle.

The Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team were assisted by officers from the Road Casualty Reduction Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit, Sentinel Team, Local Policing Team and Special Constabulary. Partner agencies present included: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); Home Office Immigration Enforcement; Environment Agency; and Ipswich Borough Council Taxi Licensing.

Six people were arrested as follows: three for immigration offences; two for drug-driving; and one for a number of offences after a man driving an Iveco Tipper truck failed to stop for police.
In respect of the final arrest mentioned above, officers spotted the tipper truck being driven along Civic Drive with an insecure load. After officers directed the driver to follow them, he diverted unexpectedly into Benezet Street, before contravening a ‘No Entry’ sign and driving the wrong way in Stevenson Street. A short pursuit took place and the vehicle was located in Handford Road with the assistance of other police units, where the driver was found to have swapped seats with the passenger.
Zack High, aged 26, of West Meadows, Ipswich, was subsequently charged with the following six offences: driving without due care and attention; driving whilst disqualified; failing to stop for police; driving without insurance; riding in a front passenger seat whilst not wearing a seatbelt; and using a vehicle with a load that was insecure and likely to cause danger.
High was remanded in custody and appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 27 August, where he pleaded guilty to all six offences. He was bailed pending a sentencing hearing to be held at the same court on Thursday 9 October.

53 vehicles in total were escorted back to the check site, with just 10 leaving clear of any offences.
63 Traffic Offence Reports were issued at the check site, including: 16 for no seatbelt; 10 for poor condition of vehicle; seven for insecure loads; five for no insurance; five for illegal number plates; four for tinted windows; four for no tax; three for no MOT; three for using a mobile phone; and one each for diving whilst disqualified; failing to secure a child; overweight vehicle; not being in proper control; contravening a red light; and no driving licence.
Eight people were breathalysed for drink-driving or wiped for drug driving, two of whom were positive (as per arrest details above). Six vehicles were seized.
One vehicle was stopped due to front and rear number plates failing to conform to the regulations. Upon further inspection by officers they were found to be ghost plates and were surrendered to police.

PC Will Hudson, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “This was another very successful day of action, with numerous offences detected.
“The arrest where the driver failed to stop involved a short pursuit, during which the driver swapped places with the passenger. This is in itself a dangerous action, especially given the insecure load the vehicle was carrying. The officers involved demonstrated great professionalism in safely stopping the vehicle.
“43 of the 53 vehicles brought back to the site recorded offences of some description and what was particularly concerning – other than the arrests that were made – were the 10 TORs issued for vehicles that were in a poor condition.
“It is incumbent on all road users to adhere to the law and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and being driven in a safe manner. Our officers are out on the roads 24/7 enforcing this, but these days help to shine a spotlight on these issues and we hope they can help to educate drivers of the risks.”

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This proactive operation has truly lived up to its name; the results clearly show it was an action-packed day.
“The officers achieved some tremendous results, proving the worth of these events aimed at keeping criminals and defective vehicles off our county’s roads.
“I fully support these multi-agency days of action, keeping Suffolk’s roads safe and free-flowing is crucially important to all of us living and working in the county, and our Roads Policing Team has a pivotal role in helping to achieve this.
“I would like to congratulate the Constabulary and all the agencies who worked hard to make this joint operation such a success, I believe the results speak for themselves.”

Pictured: Tim Passmore at a previous day of action in Copdock on the outskirts of Ipswich.