Police stop more than 200 drivers to coincide with weekend of action (From Daily Echo)
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Police stop more than 200 drivers to coincide with weekend of action
9:56am Monday 8th February 2010 in
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- By Corey Stephenson » Senior News and Video Reporter
HUNDREDS of motorists were pulled over by police in a “ring of steel” operation to take illegal drivers and suspected criminals off the roads.
To coincide with a weekend of action across the UK, Southampton’s force of volunteer Special Constables joined officers from the roads policing unit at three spots across the city.
More than 200 cars were stopped in the day-long operation, with 14 towed away and taken off the road as a result. Using number plate recognition cameras, the teams were stopping vehicles which were either known for previous offences or being driven without insurance or tax.
The ‘Ring of Steel’ approach formed part of Operation Sargasso which saw drivers stopped at Cobden Bridge, Bitterne, Burgess Road in Bassett and Lordshill Way, Lordshill.
After checks on the insurance and licence details police issued 20 “producers”, meaning drivers have to report to their nearest police station with all their driver documents within seven days.
Some drivers were breathalysed and officers found three cars containing illegal drugs after searches by sniffer dogs. Special District Officer Steve Perry – in charge of the city’s special constables – said the areas were selected as routes which join different parts of the city and to capture the most number of drivers and raise awareness of the operation.
“It was a very successful day for us and we’re well in a position now to do something similar in the future,” he said.
“The aim was to find people driving without insurance, tax or a driving licence, and also to pick up people who will be using these routes to move drugs.
“All the Specials involved, both the experienced and inexperienced, rose to the challenge and gained a lot from it.
“We’re very pleased and I think Southampton has set the benchmark for the rest of Hampshire to try and follow.”
Comments(35)
stmarysmush
says...
10:21am Mon 8 Feb 10
My View from the Hill
says...
10:33am Mon 8 Feb 10
I must have missed that or they missed me, I'm sure it was a success and should be done more often.
Day Dreamer
says...
10:39am Mon 8 Feb 10
sotonwinch09
says...
10:50am Mon 8 Feb 10
every day is like sunday
says...
11:09am Mon 8 Feb 10
IanRRR
says...
11:17am Mon 8 Feb 10
The Wickham Man
says...
11:22am Mon 8 Feb 10
Big Mac
says...
11:26am Mon 8 Feb 10
freefinker
says...
11:44am Mon 8 Feb 10
IanRRR wrote:Yes, agree this should be permanent.
Never mind doing it more often. This should be a permanent offensive. Day and night, we should have this in a different place constantly, to drive the scum out of OUR City! Just redeploy the speeding team and spend our money on this instead. Much more effective. I dont care if they stop me every day, if it catches the real criminals.
But why oh why "redeploy the speeding team"? This should be in addition. Speeding is just as illegal as no tax, no insurance, etc, and should be punished just as severely.
Or is there a slight hint by your comment that you condone speeding? I would hope not.
Paramjit Bahia
says...
12:00pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Derek of Dibden Purlieu
says...
12:13pm Mon 8 Feb 10
shilo
says...
12:20pm Mon 8 Feb 10
trunk2010
says...
12:32pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Every day is like Sunday - having part-time volunteers (pretend police) undermines the full time police? Rubbish. Without the volunteers thousands of hours of everyday policing would simply not have been possible. And they have continous training. Would you say the same about the TA? Make sure you don't call the Police - you might get a 'pretend' one eh?
Wickham Man - these are Special Constables, not PCSO's - there's a big difference. But great joke about spectacles. Really.
Hats off to 'em all - thanks guys & gals.
Bam Boozler
says...
12:50pm Mon 8 Feb 10
If society had a higher moral fibre, less people would accept criminal behaviour as the norm.
Funny how people like these operations, yet are willing to line the streets and yet line the streets for "lovable rogues" like the Krays or campaign for the release of Ronnie Biggs. They are amongst the worst scumbags, yet become celebrities.
Whether it's violence, dishonesty, drugs or motoring laws,
it's about time people accept that all criminals are scum and all laws are to be followed, not just those that suit the individual.
hulla baloo
says...
1:14pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Lets have more of it.
LeGrandOiseau
says...
1:25pm Mon 8 Feb 10
jono1974
says...
1:32pm Mon 8 Feb 10
wasting peoples time & wasting tax payers money.
South Coast B
says...
1:48pm Mon 8 Feb 10
The Wickham Man wrote:Not sure why the Wickham Man, Fareham refers to PCSO's in his comment above. I have read the article twice and there is no mention of PCSO's. Only Special Constables and the Roads Policing Unit are mentioned in the Echo report.
Never thought I'd see the phrase "Ring of Steel" used in conjunction with PCSOs. The nearest most of them get to a ring of steel is the frame of their National Health Spectacles.
PCSO's and Special Constables are completely different although thankfully both groups are willing to provide a front line service, paid or unpaid to help keep our streets safe.
X Old Bill
says...
3:00pm Mon 8 Feb 10
PCSOs are not Officers, despite the name, because they do not hold the Office of Constable. Unless anyone out they knows differently PCSOs do not have to swear an Oath before a Magistrate and are therefore Security guards employed by the Police.
They both have their roles in our society complementing the Police 'business'.
Montymontymonty
says...
3:30pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Bam Boozler wrote:Agreed.
If this was done every week, you'd soon have people whinging that it was oppressive and suggesting the police were out targeting real criminals. If society had a higher moral fibre, less people would accept criminal behaviour as the norm. Funny how people like these operations, yet are willing to line the streets and yet line the streets for "lovable rogues" like the Krays or campaign for the release of Ronnie Biggs. They are amongst the worst scumbags, yet become celebrities. Whether it's violence, dishonesty, drugs or motoring laws, it's about time people accept that all criminals are scum and all laws are to be followed, not just those that suit the individual.
And I'd go one further than Bam...the real threat to our society are the random acts of violence perpetrated on the streets of our city on any given Friday or Saturday night. When will there be a "ring of steel" that captures, prosecutes and comensurately punishes all those drunken undesirables who consider it acceptable (and even enjoyable) to use their muscle to intimidate, injure and occasionally kill other people who have the misfortune of crossing their paths.
Come on Hampshire Police...get to work on the real rot in society that is happening around us. That will really help make Southampton a more desirable place to live in and visit.
P/w = "will-well" ....hmmm.
Monty
freefinker
says...
4:48pm Mon 8 Feb 10
LeGrandOiseau wrote:True, and long may these campaigns continue.
Good news! There are too many illegal / unregistered / uninsured cars & vans on the road. This type of policing gets my support. Keep it up!
But there are many, many more motorists (with tax, insurance etc) who still think the speed limits do not apply to them.
And while I know many of the "illegal" vehicles are un-roadworthy and thus present dangers to the public, speeding motorists present a much greater risk to both other road users and pedestrians.
So, welcome as this campaign is, the authorities must also step up and intensify action to bring the speed-merchants to book.
King Mush
says...
5:56pm Mon 8 Feb 10
every day is like sunday wrote:lol
I would resent being stopped by the pretend-police. Having part time volunteers undermines the professionalism of the real police, who undergo a far more stringent recruitment process and longer training than "specials", and yet we are expected to let these people have authority over us!
Who cares who helps with snaring the scummy tax/insurance dodgers plus a few drugs,, stolen gear etc.
Part-time volunteers? Just think of them as a kind of upgraded Neighbourhood Watch but without the risk of being targetted as a 'grass'
Great news - make it a DAILY operation all over the city.
Iw61
says...
6:38pm Mon 8 Feb 10
I thought CaMoron had arrived on the back of a military coup!!
Brite Spark
says...
7:01pm Mon 8 Feb 10
miltonarchers
says...
7:23pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Stupideditor
says...
7:59pm Mon 8 Feb 10
freefinker wrote:I too agree. With it being done on a daily basis it will also restrict foreigners who work in this country and still use their own cars from home countries and don't register, MOT or insure.
IanRRR wrote: Never mind doing it more often. This should be a permanent offensive. Day and night, we should have this in a different place constantly, to drive the scum out of OUR City! Just redeploy the speeding team and spend our money on this instead. Much more effective. I dont care if they stop me every day, if it catches the real criminals.Yes, agree this should be permanent. But why oh why "redeploy the speeding team"? This should be in addition. Speeding is just as illegal as no tax, no insurance, etc, and should be punished just as severely. Or is there a slight hint by your comment that you condone speeding? I would hope not.
Condor Man
says...
8:23pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Stupideditor wrote:Foreign cars were supposed to be registered after being here 6 months, I wonder how many PL plates were actually done?
freefinker wrote:I too agree. With it being done on a daily basis it will also restrict foreigners who work in this country and still use their own cars from home countries and don't register, MOT or insure.IanRRR wrote: Never mind doing it more often. This should be a permanent offensive. Day and night, we should have this in a different place constantly, to drive the scum out of OUR City! Just redeploy the speeding team and spend our money on this instead. Much more effective. I dont care if they stop me every day, if it catches the real criminals.Yes, agree this should be permanent. But why oh why "redeploy the speeding team"? This should be in addition. Speeding is just as illegal as no tax, no insurance, etc, and should be punished just as severely. Or is there a slight hint by your comment that you condone speeding? I would hope not.
Many illegal drivers pick up cars from the auctions and make use of any remaining car tax to avoid detection.
downfader
says...
9:09pm Mon 8 Feb 10
every day is like sunday wrote:Specials, although volunteers, undergo the same screening and training procedures that paid Police officers do. They also hold all the same powers a regular Officer does (unlike a PCSO).
I would resent being stopped by the pretend-police. Having part time volunteers undermines the professionalism of the real police, who undergo a far more stringent recruitment process and longer training than "specials", and yet we are expected to let these people have authority over us!
You have to remember this is how Policing started - with volunteers. If it wasn't for the Specials you'd have many more problems. They're vital.
jaysub
says...
6:52am Tue 9 Feb 10
freefinker
says...
9:11am Tue 9 Feb 10
jaysub wrote:"proper crime"?
why dont proper crimes get sorted out 1st instead of our money being taken away???
So, this is pretend crime, is it?
Your "money being taken away" don't happen if you don't do the crime.
Militant Ford Worker
says...
10:42am Tue 9 Feb 10
How about doing it in Eastleigh this week?
Go on, I dare you.
db_3
says...
11:02am Tue 9 Feb 10
freefinker
says...
12:29pm Tue 9 Feb 10
db_3 wrote:Why oh why "rather than speeding".
Has my support. If the police shifted focus to this activity rather than speeding they'd soon win the support of the majority of motorists.
It needs to be in addition to dealing firmly with speeding.
Or do you not support the police tackling speeding crime?
Ratty Jean
says...
2:24pm Tue 9 Feb 10
shilo wrote:This is something that we have advocated for years. If you had to display an insurance disc, it would take uninsured drivers off the road in no time.
I used to live in Ireland and you have to, by law, display your car insurance on your windscreen and also I was stopped three times in a year by officers checking my car tax which I thought were excellent ideas to stop the fraudsters.
Bring it on.
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G0Rf says...
9:59am Mon 8 Feb 10
Why isnt it done more often?