More than 100 motorists stopped in ANPR checks

Dorset Police and Hampshire Constabulary stopped 140 drivers as part of an operation in Bournemouth and Poole – using Automatic Number Plate Recognition Technology (ANPR)

The ANPR operation – which took place on Friday evening, 25 September 2009 – was aimed at targeting criminals using the roads and providing high visibility public reassurance and resulted in 61 drivers being dealt with for a range of offences.

These included one driver arrested who was wanted on warrant, one arrest of a disqualified driver, five drugs searches, five drink drive arrests and one stolen vehicle recovered.

Six drivers were also issued with fixed penalty tickets for having no insurance, 14 for having no MOT and eight vehicles were seized.

In addition, a number of intelligence reports were gathered.

Chief Inspector Nicky Searle, of Bournemouth and Poole police, said: “Friday’s operation was very useful as we were able to stop a number of drivers and deal with them appropriately for a whole range of offences.

“We also provided a high profile policing presence in Bournemouth and Poole and were able to gather intelligence and information which will assist our future operations.

“We will continue to target criminals in the Bournemouth and Poole area and this type of operation – which provides an excellent opportunity to prevent and detect any criminals moving in and around the area – will continue.”

ANPR systems instantly check up to 3,000 vehicles an hour against various databases of intelligence. This includes information provided by police officers, Crimestoppers, the DVLA and other forces about vehicles driven by people suspected of committing crime, wanted on warrant, and those used by disqualified drivers.