Eight arrests made and almost 100 vehicles stopped during multi-agency day of action in the Ipswich area

Eight people were arrested, more than 90 vehicles were stopped and over 180 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, during a multi-agency day of action in and around Ipswich.

The operation took place on Wednesday 3 December, 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 at the Copdock truck stop, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.

Officers were 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.

Under the banner of Operation Alliance, Suffolk Police officers were assisted by Specialist Operations colleagues from Norfolk, Essex & BCH (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire).

Local resources included officers from the Roads and Armed Policing Team, Road Casualty Reduction Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit, Police Dog Unit, Local Policing Teams and Kestrel Team; along with police staff colleagues from the Modern Day Slavery Team and the Safety Camera Team.

Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC); Home Office Immigration Enforcement; Environment Agency; National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS); MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau); Suffolk County Council Trading Standards, East Suffolk Council Taxi Licensing; Datatag; and Marston & CDER Group debt recovery services.

Eight people were arrested as follows: four on suspicion of drug-driving and four for immigration offences. Two of the people detained by Immigration Enforcement were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.

97 vehicles were escorted back to the check site, with just 27 leaving clear of any offences.

58 Traffic Offence Reports were issued at the check site, including: nine for insecure loads; six for not wearing a seat belt; five for using a mobile phone; five for no insurance; five for no MOT; five for illegal tyres; four for dangerous condition; four for illegal number plates; four for contravening a red traffic light; three for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence; three for tinted windows; two for overweight vehicles; and one each for careless driving; excessive noise due to defective exhaust systems; and an incorrectly registered vehicle.

38 people were breathalysed for drink-driving – all of which were negative - and 17 people were tested for drug-driving, four of which were positive (as per arrest details above).

Other notable stops included one vehicle found with five people (three of which were children) sat across three rear seats; one driver who was only allowed to tow a 750kg trailer was towing a 3500kg trailer; and one stolen vehicle recovered. Five vehicles were seized in total for having no insurance.

The Safety Camera Team deployed to roads in the surrounding area, detecting a total of 124 speeding offences. This brought the total number of TORs issued as part of the overall operation to 182.

The Environment Agency checked 17 vehicles; and Trading Standards checked 13 vehicles and seized 41 bottles of perfume. HMRC challenged 67 vehicles checking for illegal fuel. Marstons recovered £6,305 in unpaid fines, which included £2,595 owed to local councils.

Sergeant Alex Kelly, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “The results of this day of action speak for themselves again, with 70 of the 97 vehicles escorted back to the check site recording offences of some description.

“The benefits of bringing all these partner agencies together in one place is demonstrated by the range of offences we detected. Although the majority of offences will always be motoring ones, these often lead us to the discovery of potentially more serious crimes – as we found yesterday with two people arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.

“The four arrests for drug-driving underline why this is an area we are focusing on with our annual Christmas campaign highlighting the dangers of drink and drug driving. This year the message is ‘Don’t put drugs in the driving seat’ as this is an ever growing issue, particularly with men.

“We again saw people taking other completely unnecessary risks, such as the car with five people across three rear seats and the person towing a trailer more than four-times the weight he was allowed to.

“We are grateful to our colleagues from across our own organisation, along with all those from our neighbouring forces and partner agencies for helping to make Operation Alliance such a success once again.

“RAPT officers are out 24/7 to keep our roads safe for everyone and offenders should remember that although we cannot be everywhere, we can be anywhere.”

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Once again this day of action has been a tremendous success. The results speak for themselves. 

“The risks people are prepared to take with their own lives, and the lives of other, never fails to amaze me. Sadly, drug driving has continued to be an issue, as has driving vehicles unfit for the road – and there really is no excuse for this.

“I’d like to put on record my thanks to everyone involved in this day of action, from Suffolk and beyond. It really does help make Suffolk’s roads safer and helps keep traffic flowing.”