27/3/2008

Local News

Cars seized in crackdown

A POLICE crackdown on road crime has resulted in the seizure of 41 vehicles in the Star area.
The county-wide crackdown led by Hampshire’s Roads Policing Unit, used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. 
Using the technology in the Farnborough unit’s area, officers were able to make 18 arrests – five for drug offences, four for vehicle crime offences, three for theft offences, three for disqualified driving, two for drink driving and one for driving under the influence of drugs.
ANPR works by scanning the numbers plates of vehicles. Number plate information is then fed back into a computer which scans various databases and officers will be alerted if the vehicle is of interest and should be stopped.
In the Farnborough unit’s area, which includes Aldershot, Fleet and Yateley, police carried out 563 stop checks. The crackdown was codenamed Operation Immediacy 5.
Inspector Beth Pirie of the Roads Policing Unit said: “Operation Immediacy 5 has been a huge success and sends out a clear message to our communities: If you use Hampshire and Isle of Wight roads in order to commit crime, or if you are driving unlawfully, then you will be caught.
“Automatic number plate recognition is a vital crimefighting tool, enabling police to receive information on wanted vehicles and take immediate action. If you are a law-abiding citizen then you have nothing to fear.”

First printed in: Surrey Hants Star