MORE than 100 drivers were stopped and their cars rigorously examined as part a police operation to crack down on rural crime and unroadworthy cars being on the road.

Around 20 officers were pulling over vehicles travelling along the A346 between Swindon and Marlborough, on the A338 near the Esso Petrol Station in Burbage, the A4361 near Avebury Social Club and the A4 at Froxfield near The Pelican.

Red diesel, bald tyres and whether people had insurance were among the checks Sergeant Craig Hardy and a team of officers were carrying out to catch anyone who was driving illegally.

Pete White, Wiltshire Council's enforcement manager for environmental crime, was also looking to see if people held genuine scrap metal licences.

The day was led by Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, who were keen to focus on vans and trailers.

By 10am at Bay Bridge, near Marlborough, officers had pulled over a number of vehicles which they found faults with. One trailer’s tyres were bald and another had no insurance.

Officers from Gloucestershire, and Avon and Somerset Police also helped out as well as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Wiltshire Council.

"There were a number of aims of the operation, firstly to remove illegal vehicles from the roads,” said PC Marc Jackson.

"Our colleagues in the HMRC, VOSA and at the council were looking for offences relating to their areas of expertise like the use of red diesel, vehicles that were unroadworthy and dangerous and those carrying materials they should not be.

"Also, recently there has been a spate of rural offences in this area, like hare coursing and burglaries. Often those criminals use the local roads to great effect in order to commit their crimes.

“These spot checks help us identify suspicious looking vehicles which could be linked to criminal activity."

The results

  • A total of 166 vehicles were stopped across the four sites.
  • Two arrests; a 23-year-old man from Bristol arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis and drug driving. He has been released on unconditional bail.
  • A 37-year-old man from Gloucester arrested for failing to attend court. He is still in custody.
  • Six fixed penalty tickets issued for things like no MOT, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving.
  • One agricultural vehicle found to be defective.
  • Four prohibitions issued to commercial and agricultural vehicles for not being road worthy. 
  • 25 verbal warnings issued for minor vehicle faults.