Cops crack down on criminal acts

Officers working on Operation DORIC targeted known offenders, and conducted patrols and road stops around the area on Friday, April 12.

Several agencies were involved in the operation including the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Trading Standards, Her Majesties Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the British Transport Police.

The day of action saw police officers issue 27 conditional offers for offences such as not wearing a seat belt or using a mobile phone while driving.

A total of 19 drivers were reported to the Procurator Fiscal for alleged dangerous driving, having no insurance and no drivers licence.

Officers checked 88 vehicles with three uplifted and seized, 18 prohibited from driving by VOSA and a further four were issued with off road notices.

Officers checked 115 people for documentation which resulted in two males being arrested on warrant and a man was charged with taking and driving a vehicle without the owners permission. Other allegations include overloaded vehicles and no traders’ licencees.

Detective Chief Inspector Pat Campbell, who leads the operation, said: “This type of crime leaves the most vulnerable members of our community in very distressing situations and Home Office studies have shown that their health deteriorates and on many occasions the will loose the will to live.

‘‘For this reason it is important to concentrate on stopping these despicable acts from happening and for us to look at how we support the victims of this type of crime.”