Operation Crossbow sees officers tackle criminality on the roads of Cheshire East

Over 100 officers from the eastern area of the county have conducted a day of action to disrupt criminals abusing the road networks as well as tackling immigration and modern-day slavery offences.

Operation Crossbow took place across Monday 23rd June as part of efforts to disrupt criminality across the eastern area of Cheshire and protecting vulnerable people.

Over the course of the day, action took place across areas including Crewe, Macclesfield, Sandbach, Congleton, Knutsford and Wilmslow. Over 100 officers from various departments worked alongside colleagues from Staffordshire Police and British Transport Police, Trading Standards, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Motorway Insurance Bureau, in disrupting and directly targeting criminals who choose to abuse Cheshire’s road networks and bring crime into the county.

Officers from localized Beat Teams, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Drone Unit, Roads and Crime, Motorbike Unit, Special Constables and the Dog Unit were also joined by colleagues from Immigration Enforcement and the Home Office in visits to addresses linked to modern day slavery and immigration offences, directly safeguarding the most vulnerable people in the county.

Following an 8am briefing from Chief Constable Mark Roberts and Superintendent Andy Blizard, officers rolled out from the Cheshire university campus in Crewe, making it known that Cheshire remains a hostile environment for anyone flouting the rules of the roads.

Over the course of the day, officers and their colleagues spread across the county and executed a number actions including; weight checks of vehicles carrying heavy loads on the motorways, conducting stop and search operations in the county’s busiest railway stations, seizing non-roadworthy vehicles and stopping drivers on busy roads who were without insurance, not wearing seatbelts, and being distracted by using mobile phones or Sat Navs whilst behind the wheel.

Assisting their colleagues from Immigration and Trading Standards, officers visited commercial premises to locate and seize illegal tobacco and vape products, conduct extradition warrants and arrest outstanding offenders.

The overall results from the day included:

• 161 speeding activations (Hand-held and Static Van)
• 56 TORS issued
• 35 stop searches (11 of which positive)
• 26 Op Learn (HGV security) engagements
• 19 checks at locations for Immigration and Trading Standards - including several fines issued, one person arrested on Extradition Warrant, two illegal workers detained, 3500 illegal vapes seized worth around £5000, with multiple follow ups for Trading Standards.
• 14 Arrests
• 11 PG9 notices issued
• 11 Community Resolutions issued
• 6 Vehicle Seizures
• 3 Postal Requisitions submitted
• 2 PNDs issued in relation to parking
• 1 yellow card issued
• Op Vigilant (child exploitation) deployments at various locations across the east

Other highlights included a motorbike being prohibited from driving on the road for having very little rear tyre tread and a broken exhaust on Macon Way, Crewe, a driver travelling through east Cheshire from Doncaster had his vehicle seized as he was driving with a revoked licence and his passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, and a HGV at Sandbach Services was issued with a TOR and a prohibition notice for being over the legal weight limit.

As well as this, within ten minutes of rolling out, officers became engaged in a failure to stop pursuit in the Mill Street area of Crewe, that resulted in the arrest of a man from Staffordshire.

The 29-year-old, who also happened to be wanted for failing to attend court, was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance. He is currently in custody assisting officers with their enquiries.

Chief Inspector Cameron Taylor, who the oversaw operational response, said:

“The successful operation is a testament to the hard work of the many officers from several departments across the Constabulary and our partner organisations coming together to directly target criminality within the eastern area of Cheshire.

“We have seen a high number of traffic offences reported and several vehicles seized that were either being driven dangerously, were not safe to be driven or incorrectly insured, thus further limiting the likelihood of incidents and continually making Cheshire’s roads safe for those who live, work and travel through the county. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partner agencies as well as our officers from the Roads and Crime Unit and our Local Policing teams in their activity across the eastern area of the county as part of Operation Crossbow. Their proactivity and engagement have helped us identify and remove drivers that should not have gotten behind the wheel.

“Alongside taking proactive action against those misusing the roads, we also used the deployment as an opportunity to provide education to motorists, familiarising them with the Fatal Five offences and utilising the team from the Commercial Vehicles Unit to ensure drivers carrying heavy loads along our roads were aware of the appropriate regulations regarding how much they can legally carry.

“I hope this sends out a strong message that if you commit crime in Cheshire, or on Cheshire’s roads, you will be caught, and we will utilise all of the tactics and resources at our disposal to ensure you are held accountable.”

Chief Constable Mark Roberts added:

“Our officers are committed to protecting our communities and work tirelessly every day to prevent and disrupt criminal activity.

“This latest operation shows just a small snapshot of their unwavering efforts as these are all areas in which we excel at day in, day out, and are part of our everyday policing tactics to continue to keep people safe and reduce crime.

“Operations like this send out a strong message that Cheshire is a hostile environment for those who wish to commit crime and that anyone who chooses to abuse our roads will be located and held accountable for their actions.”