West Midlands Police targets road safety in 'successful' Op Advance
Large-scale operation leads to arrests, vehicle seizures, and hundreds of fines
West Midlands Police has hailed the success of Operation Advance, a major road safety drive that involved stopping over 200 vehicles and led to multiple arrests, fines, and vehicle seizures.
The operation took place on 26th November across the region, with officers from the Roads Policing Unit working alongside teams from operations, training, and local policing areas throughout the day and into the night.
During the operation, police stopped 215 vehicles and made nine arrests for offences including driving while disqualified, possession of drugs with intent to supply, and possession of a knife.
Police issued 106 tickets to drivers for a range of offences including driving without insurance, using mobile phones while driving, speeding, failing to wear seat belts, and using illegal window tints and tyres.
A record 66 vehicles were seized for no insurance during the day.
In Birmingham, police seized a Bentley with no insurance and recovered a van that had been reported stolen just the day before.
Community and high-level support
The initiative had support from a range of partners including the Motor Insurance Bureau, DVSA, DVLA, HMRC, Datatag, Taxi Licensing, local authorities, and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Community speedwatch activities also took place in Sheldon and Wolverhampton, assisted by neighbourhood teams and local volunteers.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford joined officers at one of the Birmingham operations and met with student officers preparing to go on the beat in the coming weeks.
Chief Superintendent Sarah Burton, Head of Operations, praised the efforts of everyone involved.
“This was about showing our commitment as a force to road safety, but our work to keep our roads safe doesn’t stop here," she said.
“Our focus remains on targeting motorists who are a risk to our roads and those who commit Fatal 4 offences, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and putting lives at risk.
“We are working hard alongside our partners to ensure our roads are safe for everyone. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and for us to achieve Vision Zero goals – no more deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2040 – we all have a vital part to play."
Positive public feedback
Later in the day, the Specials Roads Policing Unit carried out more roadside stops in Birmingham, checking a further 155 vehicles. Officers reported receiving positive responses from the public regarding the visibility of the operation and its focus on road safety.
Detective Inspector Sam Lewis from the Roads Policing Unit emphasised the importance of initiatives like Operation Advance.
“We want to thank everyone involved from across West Midlands Police and our partners for their commitment to a vitally important part of policing," Lewis said.
“There are an estimated four million drivers on our roads with eyesight below the standard required for driving. Uninsured vehicles are more likely to be involved in a collision, and the Fatal 4 offences continue to cause so many killed or seriously injured collisions.
“We ensured that there was a key focus on these elements throughout our operation and will continue to do so each and every day."