Suffolk Police arrest three during day of action targeting criminals using county's roads
They also seized 70 wraps of cocaine and stopped 40 vehicles
Suffolk Police tell us they arrested three people, seized 70 wraps of cocaine and stopped 40 vehicles during a multi-agency day of action in and around Ipswich last week.
The force carried out the operation on Wednesday 27th March, intending to disrupt activities of criminals, including gangs, who commit offences across county borders whilst using the county's roads.
Officers say they also focused on round road safety, drink/drug driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt.
Any vehicles police identified as being potentially involved in criminality or committing offences were taken to a check site at the Tesco truck stop, near to the A12/A14 Copdock Mill Interchange.
There, police conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.
The stats
Three people were arrested - one on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and two on suspicion of drug-driving, one of whom was also arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs and driving whilst disqualified
40 vehicles were escorted back to the site, with only six leaving clear of any offences.
Five vehicles were seized.
49 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, including:
12 for having an insecure load
11 for tinted windows
Five for no insurance
Four for carriage of dangerous goods
Four for no MOT
Two for using a mobile phone
Two for not wearing a seatbelt
"A great opportunity"
Sergeant Richard Starkey, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “These days of action provide us with a great opportunity to detect vehicles with defects and remove unsafe vehicles from the roads, while also enforcing the ‘Fatal 4’ main causes of fatal or serious collisions.
“Another aim of these days is to identify anyone using the road network to commit more serious crimes, and so the arrest of someone on suspicion of possessing cocaine with intent to supply is particularly pleasing.
“The number of offending drivers or vehicles with defects was considerably lower than we have detected working from this location previously, which I hope is a sign that the messages of our regular road safety campaigns and days of action are beginning to get through to people.”