Last updated at 16:00, Friday, 07 September 2012

MORE than 300 cars were stopped during a police operation on Cumbria roads.

Cumbria police undertook the force-wide operation dubbed ‘Operation Acrobat’ on Thursday.

More than 75 Officers from Cumbria Constabulary were involved the high visibility, multi-agency operation.

Led by the Roads Policing Unit, the operation involved both uniformed and plain clothed officers from Cumbria Constabulary’s Tactical Support Group, Dog Section and various CID departments, together with local officers and special constables from every area of the force.

The operation was conducted on several static sites across the county, supported by both marked and unmarked police vehicles.

During the course of the day and throughout the evening more than 300 vehicles were stopped and both the occupants and the vehicles were checked by police and partner agencies.

Three people from the Aberdeen and Liverpool areas were arrested for disqualified driving, possession of controlled drugs, money laundering, being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs, and police obstruction. Six vehicles were seized for the driver having no insurance/ no driving licence, two others vehicles were seized having been used in crime, numerous vehicles and persons were searched and reported or given fixed penalty notices for a variety of offences from having no insurance to police obstruction.

Chief Inspector Kevin Greenhow, in overall charge of the operation, said: “Several people were checked by the UK Border Agency regarding potential immigration offences, but all were found to be in order. The UK Border Agency make regular checks in conjunction with Cumbria Constabulary who have developed a good working relationship in order to deal effectively with those people who either enter the UK illegally, or who remain here when no longer eligible to stay.”

The Department of Work & Pensions Fraud Investigation Teams also made checks on individuals suspected of claiming benefits whilst working. This is ongoing work and the DWP Fraud Investigation Officers reported having had some excellent results, but with further enquiries to be made. Anyone claiming benefits whilst working can expect that with the close working relationship and exchange of information protocols now enjoyed by all of the partner agencies, the chances of being caught are significantly more likely than in years gone by.

The Vehicle Operator Service Agency prohibited ten vehicles for a variety of offences including a HGV driver driving excessive hours, defective tyres, and a severely overweight goods vehicle – all of which have the potential to be the cause of a serious or fatal collision.

First published at 15:46, Friday, 07 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk