Eight people have been arrested and 12 vehicles so far seized in a joint crackdown on cross-border criminals using our regions roads. Operation Crossbow, aimed at tackling a string of offences including drug dealing, dangerous driving, human trafficking, and modern slavery, saw Cheshire Police join forces with GMP and deploy over 150 officers onto the roads.
Swathes of officers were initially briefed in the Warrington IKEA car park, before setting off to 'catch the bad guys' who use roads across Manchester and Cheshire to commit their crimes.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras were used by officers to virtually monitor vehicles crossing between the counties, with stop checks made on all vehicles that were linked to criminal activity or operating on the roads illegally.
Eight were arrested in total, with five detained by Cheshire cops and a further three by GMP. Eight others were stopped after being caught using their mobile phones while driving.
A total of 12 vehicles were seized, with 27 HGVs stopped, 500 wraps of suspected crack cocaine and heroin recovered, and 10 Graduated Fixed Penalty Notices handed out, at £2,500 in costs.
Speaking afterwards, Cheshire Superintendent Sarah Heath said: “During this day of action, we have shown our commitment to the communities of Cheshire and our promise to make the region a hostile environment for criminals to operate. We are relentless in our pursuit to disrupt criminal activity especially on and around our borders - we will use all the resources available to us to make it even more difficult for those intent on crossing the border to commit crime.
“The day has been an all-round success, showcasing the Constabulary’s solid efforts to impede any potential criminal activity taking place on or across the borders. We have sent a clear and direct message to those using our roads to commit crime that they are not welcome in Cheshire, and they will be brought to justice.”
Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts added: “It’s quite clear, we will not stop in pursuing those who are intent on coming into Cheshire to commit crime. Operation Crossbow is a prime example of how, by working with neighbouring forces, we can bolster our collective knowledge in taking out criminals who rely on the road network to commit offences.
“There is also a strong link between the illegal use of vehicles and other serious and organised crime, which is why we are working together with our colleagues to target these criminals as they travel across the region. We cannot underestimate the impact of cross-border crime on our local communities and we will do all we can to protect the public we serve.”
The Manchester Evening News joined PC Niaz Waddington in an unmarked police vehicle on Tuesday, as cameras were used to spot vehicles with 'marks' indicating that the driver may have been involved in a crime. Officers said there are many key signs to look out for that can indicate a bigger crime happening, including a damaged vehicle.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said: “Cheshire Police’s work throughout Operation Crossbow has been fantastic and I would like to thank all officers involved for their commitment to stopping County Lines activity in its tracks. Preventing and tackling crime, in particular disrupting organised crime groups, is key to delivering the Police and Crime Plan and it is crucial that Cheshire continues to be a difficult place for these criminals to operate.
“I hope this day of action reassures Cheshire’s residents that police officers are out there, keeping you safe and putting a stop to criminal activity in the county. I am also committed to protecting the vulnerable people that are most at risk from becoming involved in county lines activity by funding crime prevention activities in order to deter them from this criminal direction.”
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT :
