Essex road crime crackdown: 29 arrested across Southend, Basildon and Harlow

A two-night Essex Police operation targeting road crime led to 29 arrests for offences including car theft, drug supply and dangerous driving.

Twenty-nine arrested in two-night Essex road crime operation

A joint Essex Police operation across Southend, Castle Point, Rochford, Basildon, Harlow and Stansted resulted in 29 arrests over two nights, yourthurrock.com reports.

Officers from Roads Policing, the Operational Support Group and Intelligence combined proactive vehicle stops with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to intercept suspect vehicles. Arrests covered offences including car theft, possession of drugs with intent to supply, dangerous driving, drug driving, driving while disqualified, and handling stolen goods.

In Southend, a police pursuit ended with a car crashing into a shop. Andrew Stevens, 20, of Gainsborough Avenue, Canvey Island, subsequently pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and possession of a Class A drug.

Across the two nights, officers stopped 204 cars, motorbikes and mopeds. A total of 36 vehicles were seized and 80 tickets issued for traffic offences.

The operation also covered gig economy road safety and labour exploitation, conducted in partnership with the Home Office. Riders employed by takeaway delivery companies were checked for valid licences, correct insurance and the legal right to work in the UK.

Ninety-four immigration checks were carried out during the operation, resulting in seven arrests for immigration offences — the majority for overstaying in the country.

Sergeant Dean Young, who leads the operation, said officers were continuing to disrupt criminal activity on the roads. "We're making arrests, taking illegal vehicles off the roads, stopping dangerous drivers, and seizing drugs and weapons before they do damage on the streets," he said.

Young added that checks on delivery riders took only a couple of minutes. "The drivers can get straight back to work," he said, noting a partnership with the Eastern Region Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit. "Our work to disrupt organised crime, safeguard the vulnerable, and create a hostile environment for those breaking the law will continue."

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)