Police launch major vehicle check

2:58pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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MORE than 150 vehicles were stopped and checked by police in Tewkesbury last night as part of an exercise designed to reduce burglary and vehicle crime in the area.

They were joined by officials from Customs and Excise, the Vehicle Inspectorate, Trading Standards, the Department of Work and Pensions and Immigration officers in the first multi-organisational exercise of its kind in the area.

The checks were conducted on Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, and lasted from 6pm to 10pm.

Sergeant Andy Prouse from Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team (SCT) said "The operation proved immensely successful in terms of checking the roadworthiness of vehicles and educating drivers, checking for vehicles without insurance or tax and also for any other offences linked to the vehicles or persons within them."

During the operation 176 vehicles were stopped and examined and as a result one person received a street caution for possession of drugs paraphernalia, two small amounts of cannabis were seized, 56 diesel tests were run and one vehicle was seized for unauthorized use of red diesel' for which the driver received a £500 fine.

One immediate mechanical prohibition and one delayed mechanical prohibition were issued for defective brakes. Three drivers were given seven days to fix minor problems with their vehicles and 32 were asked to provide their vehicle documents.

Inspector Brian Murnaghan from Tewkesbury Safer Community Team said; "We are really pleased with the results from this operation and are planning similar projects for the future.

"We are committed to making our roads safer for all road users and hope that this operation reminded drivers about the importance of vehicle safety and provided reassurance to members of the local community."