90 motorists stopped in police operation in Skegness to crackdown on road crime

Operation Stronghold officers were in the area yesterday (Tuesday) on the first of several planned enforcements across the county, displaying the new capabilities of our Roads Policing Unit.

Working with other specialist colleagues and local policing teams in the Skegness area, they took a zero-tolerance approach seizing every opportunity to detect, deter and disrupt offenders.

During the operation, officers identified drivers and passengers who belong to organised crime groups and people who run drugs through the criminal county lines networks.

Six drivers who failed drug wipe tests were arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired through drugs. One of those drivers was already wanted for a previous drug drive offence. In addition over 50 reports were submitted for offences of speeding, not wearing seatbelts, insurance and vehicle defect offences.

Officers also searched 12 people who were suspected of possessing drugs and one vehicle was seized as there was no valid insurance for the driver to lawfully drive it.

By using information from the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, officers identified criminals who are known to use the roads to commit crime.

They also looked for drivers and road users who flout road safety laws, such as drive while they are disqualified.

Superintendent Lee Pache, Specialist Operations, Lincolnshire Police, said: “We have brought officers from roads policing and other specialist units together for an operation to support the local policing teams in the Skegness area. This is the first of many operations across the county where we will be targeting criminality and road safety.

“Using intelligence and honed policing skills, we focussed on those who use the road network to commit crimes and flout road safety laws.

“We want the behaviour of criminals to be thrown off-guard. While they may be used to a usual level of policing, this is our opportunity to provide extra resources to an area to disrupt criminality in local communities, providing confidence to local people, but throwing criminals off balance, not knowing when or where our next operation will be.”