Cross-border operation to tackle criminality

Officers from Hertfordshire have taken part in an operation to tackle cross-border criminality, including vehicle crime, drug crime and burglary.

Resources from East Herts and Broxbourne joined Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service for the operation on Thursday night (29 February).

Both uniformed and plain-clothed patrols were carried out at key locations and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology was used to identify vehicles of interest.

Local officers were supported by colleagues from specialist units including the Operational Support Group, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit and local Operation Scorpion Teams, as well as the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

During the operation across East Herts and Broxbourne:

• A stolen vehicle was recovered.
• A man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
• A man was arrested following a pursuit into Hertfordshire.
• One vehicle was seized for having no insurance and a Traffic Offence Report was issued to the driver.
• Three stop searches were conducted.
• Intelligence was gathered.

This is the tenth time the Essex-led operation has taken place and so far has led to 75 arrests, 138 stop searches, 42 vehicles being recovered or seized and 107 pieces of intelligence being gathered.

PC Lewis Wilkson, who coordinated the operation in Hertfordshire, said: “These operations are regularly carried out to detect and deter those who travel across borders to commit crime. Working with colleagues from neighbouring forces allows us to share intelligence and identify those who may be a risk. This work will continue to help disrupt those who cause misery and fear among our local communities.

“If you have any information about criminality, please report it to police. You can do so anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers. Every call really does make a difference.”