Multi-agency exercise sees five arrested
From Press Office on 03 September 2008
Over 60 vehicles were checked and five people arrested during a multi-agency enforcement exercise in Solihull.
On Wednesday 20 August representatives from Solihull Council, West Midlands Police, VOSA, Customs and Excise, the Fire and Rescue Service and warrant officers from the Magistrates Court, gathered on the Sainsbury’s car park in Shirley to take part in an exercise as part of Operation Redtint – a multi-agency exercise designed to disrupt criminal activity in the area and gather intelligence which can be analysed and shared with law enforcement agencies.
65 vehicles including cars, taxis, trucks and lorries were picked up by the Police and through an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system from the roads around the shopping centre and escorted back to the car park to be inspected.
The results of the exercise included:
0 One vehicle seized for no insurance
0 One vehicle seized for no tax
0 One vehicle seized as the driver had no licence
0 One vehicle was found with red diesel
0 Five vehicles were banned from being driven due to defects such as faulty brakes, illegal tyres, fuel leaks, defective lights, brakes, suspension, tinted windows and corroded bodywork
0 Two people were arrested for drug offences
0 Two people were arrested for theft offences
0 One person was arrested for supplying a false identity
0 Nine vehicles were found with illegal tints which were removed on site – avoiding a fixed penalty
0 One driver was issued with a fixed penalty and will be reported to the DVLA for having an illegal number plate
0 25 people were spoken to by the Fire and Rescue Service for not wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones
0 15 taxis were inspected – two drivers were reported for badge offences, two were found with tyres below the Council’s required limit, five drivers were advised on minor defects – with two being called back for re-inspection
Vehicles that were prohibited have to undergo a full mot that has to be produced at a local police station within 10 days so that the prohibition can be lifted. A copy of the mot also has to be sent to VOSA.
A crushed car was on display in the car park to highlight the consequences of not having any insurance, as well as another car which had been involved in a serious accident where the driver who had not been wearing a seatbelt was killed.
Cabinet Member for Quality of Life and Neighbourhoods, Councillor Mrs Diana Holl-Allen said: “We want to make sure that Solihull and the rest of the West Midlands is a safe place to live, work and travel. These exercises are a great way to share skills and experiences, as well as disrupt criminal activity and gather intelligence which can be shared with other law enforcement agencies.”
Two more multi-agency exercises are planned for later this year.
For press and media enquiries only: Julie Turner 0121 704 8172
Email: juturner@solihull.gov.uk