A MAN caught driving a heavy goods vehicle in Swindon while drunk was one of 16 drivers pulled up for offences during a roads policing day of action this week.

As part of Operation Trivium, officers from the Tri-Force Roads Policing Team have been patrolling the M4 in and around Swindon to crack down on traffic offences including smuggling and overloading.

The operation will last until Friday of this week, with roads policing officers joined by enforcement officers from DVSA and HMRC at a tailored weighbridge close to junction 15.

Patrols will target heavy goods vehicles, particularly those entering the UK from abroad, to ensure they are safe to travel.

Thorough checks of the vehicles are carried out at the weighbridge, including searches of the cargo to root out any illegal contraband.

Insp Steve Cox, of the roads policing team, said the patrols were tipped off by a company in Swindon that one of their deliveries was suspect.

“One male was driving through Swindon, and was caught driving under the influence as he was making one of his deliveries.

“The company itself had raised suspicions and the driver was pulled over and breathalysed.

“The operation is part of a national initiative but is no different to the vehicle checks we often carry out at Junction 15. During the week we have had 14 officers joined by customs and excise officers, and because excise are involved we have got the road fuel team testing the fuel in the vehicles making sure they are not carrying red or green diesel and checking for any tobacco, alcohol or counterfeit goods.”

Drivers can face their vehicles being impounded and their company footing the bill.

“We are on patrol and any vehicles that are of interest to us we bring in to be checked,” added Insp Cox. “If any vehicle is unsafe we lock them up, and we still have a vehicle here today from overnight. He was 40 per cent over his weight limit so his vehicle is still locked and chained on site, waiting for another Polish lorry to come over and recover him. He has now lost a day of business, because time is money for these companies. It is a lesson to the hauliers that they have to operate legally within this country.

“During the day on Monday we pulled over 36 vehicles and found 16 separate offences, and by far the most dangerous was a three and a half tonne van we found with a cracked chassis.

“That has now been prohibited and unless they can get it repaired it will be a write-off.

“By the end of the week we will be looking at having stopped around 300 vehicles altogether, and on Monday we dished out £3,000 worth of fines. Every day is different so we cannot make many predictions, but we can expect around £20,000 in fines to have been given out by the end of the week.”

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