Suffolk Constabulary stop 58 vehicles in Red Lodge, near Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore has slammed motorists taking to the road who are 'unfit to drive' - after an operation near Bury St Edmunds.

Yesterday (Thursday, August 1) cops stopped 58 vehicles and arrested five people in a 'multi-agency day of action' in Red Lodge.

Police said the aim was to disrupt and frustrate the activities of criminals, including organised crime groups.

Tim Passmore said: "These very visible, proactive days of action are an excellent example of partners working together to keep us all safe.

"It never fails to amaze me how many drivers are on our roads in an unfit state or driving a vehicle unfit for the road. I fully support these multi-agency days and I know I speak on behalf of my RoadSafe partners when I applaud the work of everyone involved.

"I’m pleased to see that these events will continue across the county on a regular basis. Keeping our road network safe and free-flowing is so important.”

Vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality were brought back to a check site at a car park at The Pines school car park in Red Lodge, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants. Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Waveney Norse.

Five people were arrested for seven offences. Four people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving offences, and a further person on suspicion of possession of criminal property, one for on suspicion of possession of cannabis and on suspicion of drug driving.

Thirty-six traffic offence reports were issued for various offences. Seven vehicles were seized for no insurance and two vehicles were issued with defect rectification notices. The DVSA issued seven immediate police prohibitions, 11 delayed prohibitions and 15 advisory notices.

"This was another excellent day of action

Sergeant Julian Ditcham, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: "This was another excellent day of action and is a follow on from the day of action we held in Ipswich last week for similar criminality and road offences

"The fact remains if you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and it is not fit for the road or you are committing an offence you are potentially proving to be an irresponsible driver putting yourself and other motorists in danger because you are breaking the law or because you vehicle isn’t roadworthy. We simply won’t tolerate such narrow minded and irresponsible behaviour.

"We hold these operations across the county on a regular basis and will continue to do so, both to target any criminals who may be travelling through Suffolk, but also to remove unsafe vehicles and people driving illegally, making our roads and county as a whole safer for everyone.”