operation Utah

From yesterday's Operation Utah there were 14 arrests, 40 vehicles seized, 80 fixed penalty notices for seatbelt and mobile phone offences, 31 on the spot fines to foreign lorry drivers and so on; and thanks to yourthurrock.com here's our ride in the Impreza.

Before dawn this morning some 200 police officers from seven forces (including Suffolk's) gathered at the Dartford Crossing services for Operation Utah.  Led by Inspector Paul Wells and supported by a helicopter, two armed response units, dogs small and large, and civilian agencies such as the Border Agency the operation took advantage of Automatic Number Plate Recognition to detect crime on and about the M25; when we left mid morning already six vehicles had been seized.  The intention is this form of operation will be repeated through out East Anglia, perhaps as frequently as every month ...

... but the really important bit is we (with yourthurrock.com) got to hurtle about with PCs Rob Barlow and Andy Donaghy in a Subaru Impreza!