Driving offences reach critical point with police forced to intervene and launch special operation

The police unit partnered with the Kirklees neighbourhood policing team to hunt down drivers who broke the law.

The operation was launched to reduce fatal and serious road incidents in Batley and Spen and Dewsbury and Mirfield.

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Since the start of the crackdown, police recorded 1,117 traffic offences including 209 speeding offences and 262 seatbelt misuse offences.

Additionally, the police found 79 instances of mobile phone use while driving and 47 cases of driving without due care and attention.

Out of the total offences, six people were arrested for drink or drug driving offences while four people were arrested for vehicle theft. A further 95 vehicles were also seized by officers.

The operation, nicknamed Trimburg, focuses on reducing offences which can cause serious and fatal road incidents.

The five main issues are speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone and careless driving, with the operation being supported by local councillors.

Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police said: “Operation Trimburg has produced some significant results since it was launched and has represented a real commitment from the force and local councillors to making our roads safer.

“I want [to] thank colleagues from the Roads Policing Unit and our local councillors in Dewsbury and Mirfield and Batley and Spen for all their support.”

She added that Trimburg patrols come after direct feedback from residents who were concerned about the rise in offences.

Calpin stated: “We always encourage anyone who has concerns about a particular roads-related issue in their community, such as speeding or poor parking, to contact their local neighbourhood policing team.”

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector James Farrar of the West Yorkshire Roads Policing Unit, explained that reducing factors identified as a key cause of serious injury collisions “is a cornerstone of our approach”.

He said it was concerning that there were more than 400 drivers stopped for speeding and seatbelt offences.

Farrar commented: “I want to make it clear to motorists that we will take action against anyone seen committing these or other driving offences.

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“I think we all want safer roads with fewer collisions, and we will continue to target those who make those same roads more dangerous for other drivers.”