TRAFFIC police detected a motoring offence once every five minutes during a crackdown around the town last week.

More than 70 vehicles offences were detected by police officers during an operation to tackle anti-social driving in and around Swindon.

On Wednesday last week, officers from Roads Policing Units at Tri Force (Wiltshire Police, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Gloucestershire Constabulary), Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Police took to roads in Swindon and on the M4 corridor.

The operation was in response to concerns raised by the public regarding anti-social driving in Swindon and the M4, and comes shortly after Wiltshire Police also launched its annual drink-drive campaign targeting those drinking during the World Cup.

Sergeant Warren Knight of the Tri Force Specialist Operations team said: “While the operation led to a number of enforcements actions, officers were also able to use video evidence from the police vehicles to educate drivers about their driving.

“We hope this will change their driving behaviour and benefit the wider travelling public.

“This operation highlights that we listen to the concerns raised within our communities and we robustly tackle these.”

The six-hour operation involved both marked and unmarked police vehicles from the units, as well as the Vehicle Operating Standards Agency, and more than 70 vehicle-related offences were detected – roughly an offence being identified every five minutes.

In total 11 vehicles were seized because the driver had no insurance, and one car was seized because the driver had no licence.

Two drivers were dealt with for careless driving, while three vehicles had immediate prohibitions relating to their dangerous condition, and 14 drivers were dealt with for using mobile phones while driving.

Among the other offences were speeding, not wearing seat belts and having no MOT certificates. A number of heavy goods vehicles and commercial vans received fines for being overweight and having drivers’ hours infringements.

The operation also targeted EU nationals who are now UK residents for using vehicles that have not been registered with the DVLA for tax and MOT purposes.

These vehicles can be seized where drivers do not comply with the DVLA requirements.

Anyone wishing to report a vehicle related crime should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.