7 Arrests, and 18 vehicles off the road.

Seven people were arrested and 18 vehicles were seized in a police crackdown in Peterborough on Friday (March 25). Seven people were arrested on suspicion of offences including theft, possession of drugs and driving while disqualified as part of Operation Utah held in the city. Officers also took 18 vehicles off the road after they were deemed unroadworthy or checks showed they were being driven with no insurance. More than 80 officers took part in the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) operation in the city, including staff from neighbouring forces Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Essex. Checking sites were set up in Saville Road and Dickens Street. Traffic officers also patrolled the city's parkways to check for wanted people or law-breaking vehicles. In total, 47 fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers, a further 11 were reported for vehicle defects and one 4x4 driver was fined £250 after tests showed the vehicle was running on red diesel. Inspector Chris Skepper said: "ANPR technology is a great tool to help us catch law-breaking motorists and make roads safer. This kind of operation aims to deny criminals the use of the roads, disrupt organised crime and prevent terrorism. As a result of this operation we have taken 18 uninsured or unroadworthy vehicles off Peterborough's roads and arrested people who were caught flouting driving bans. "We are on the county's roads every day and would warn anyone driving illegally to think twice." Cambridgeshire Constabulary 0845 4564564 CALL CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111 will never ask for your name, trace your call, you won't need to go to Court. Registered Independent Charity not connected to Police (C) Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch,Peterborough,UK Tel: 01733 345581 >> Broadcast ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & APT Media Enquiries Julian Bray http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW