Operation Utah
Gwent Police recently joined forces with a wide range of partner agencies in Caerphilly for the latest staging of Operation Utah, an intervention which focusses on criminals using the roads and on defective vehicles.
During the operation, which is aided by the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, 56 vehicles were ushered into the Gallagher Retail Park by police officers and were checked for a variety of issues by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Representatives from Caerphilly Council Taxi Licensing and Scrap Metal Licensing also assisted with the operation, checking for tachograph offences and inadequate record keeping.
The operation results were as follows:
- 22 TORs issued for various offences including no insurance, no licence, dangerous condition of a vehicles such as mechanical defects, number of passengers, number plate offences, driving without an MOT and tyres being in a dangerous condition
- 28 immediate prohibitions were issued by the DVSA, meaning vehicles were seized at the location until the defects were rectified
- 18 delayed prohibitions issued, giving drivers a set period of time to rectify any issues
- 11 vehicles seized for driving with no insurance or driving licence
- 3 vehicle seized for no valid tax
- 3 scrap metal collectors reported for no records
- 2 overloading prohibition issued and drivers reported
- 1 vehicle seized due to its dangerous condition
- 1 company being investigated by DVSA for no operator's licence
West Area Support Unit Inspector Wendy Keepin, who led the Operation, said, “This operation took place during a national week of action to target uninsured drivers, thousands of which injure other road users every year.”
Anthony Lewis, DVSA Traffic Examiner says: “DVSA's priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles.
“Working closely with Gwent Police on Operation Utah has meant that we've been able to take some unroadworthy and illegally overweight vehicles off the roads here in South East Wales.
“We urge drivers to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and that their licence is suitable for the vehicle they wish to drive, otherwise they risk a fine or prosecution."
Anyone with concerns about suspect vehicles or road users in Gwent can contact Gwent Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.