Vehicles checked in day-long blitz
Police uncovered drain covers, drugs, illegally-tinted windows and a burglary suspect after stopping more than 100 cars in a day-long crime crackdown.
As part of Operation Utah, launched by Leicestershire police and other agencies, 117 vehicles were checked for evidence of crime or law-breaking.
Officers were positioned using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras on several main routes in the Braunstone area, with the intention of identifying and catching suspects who had used their cars in crimes.
The ANPR cameras work by scanning vehicle registrations and checking them against various databases, including the police National Computer.
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Any suspicious vehicles were intercepted and taken to specially cordoned-off areas to be dealt with by officers from a number of different agencies, including HMRC road fuels and inland detection team, trading standards, the Environment Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
Pc Steve Kane, of Beaumont Leys Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "Working together in this way allowed us to identify a disqualified driver, who was also arrested on suspicion of burglary.
"Operation Utah brought together the strengths of all partner agencies to stop more than 100 vehicles, reducing the number of defective vehicles posing a threat to law-abiding motorists.
"Five traffic order reports were completed for the manner of driving. Two vehicle defect rectification scheme notices were issued for defective vehicle lighting and six fixed penalty notices were issued for illegally tinted windows."
He said drugs searches were carried out on three vehicles and that drain covers, worth a considerable amount of money in scrap, were seized.
Pc Kane said: "We will continue to patrol the roads of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 24 hours a day, seven days a week, performing our duty to protect our communities."
Customs officers found two vehicles running on red diesel and the owners were each fined £500. VOSA issued nine prohibitions for vehicles for defects and overloading.
Councillor Sarah Russell, assistant city mayor for neighbourhood services and chairwoman of the Safer Leicester Partnership, said: "Joint operations like this send out a clear message to offenders that we take public protection extremely seriously.
"By working together we can tackle a greater number of offences and potential threats to the safety of law abiding motorists road users."
3 Comments
by Graham_LE8
Sunday, March 10 2013, 12:00PM
“And if/when it comes to court, no doubt the drain covers inexplicably fell ON to the back of a lorry?...”
by georgeisafish
Saturday, March 09 2013, 8:16PM
“too little, too late! there is no fear of the police. people drive around with no insurance, bald tyres, on the phone, ignore traffic signals and road signs, and it takes an operation like utah to nick a score of individuals? come on cops, open your eyes, theres crime driving by all day long”
by KulganCrydee
Saturday, March 09 2013, 7:57AM
“Well done to Leicestershire Police for their work on Operation Utah. Great to see coordinated efforts reap rewards.”