NINE people have been arrested and more than 80 vehicles were checked during a multi-agency day of action.

The operation took place on Tuesday, October 26 in Haverhill with the aim of criminals who commit offences across county borders whilst using the roads.

Vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality were brought back to a check site at Meadows car park in the town where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Roads and Armed Policing Team, Road Casualty Reduction Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit, Sentinel Team and the Modern Slavery Team.

The Safety Camera Team were also deployed to various locations nearby to detect any speeding offences.

A total of 81 vehicles were escorted back to the site, with just seven leaving clear of any offences.

Six vehicles were seized.

Nine were arrested with three for suspected cocaine and cannabis drug driving offences; four for suspected cannabis drug driving offences and two others for immigration offences.

Overall, 100 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) were issued including 11 for no seatbelt; eight for having an insecure load; 17 for registration plate offences; 11 for overweight vehicles; 21 for tinted windows; three for dangerous condition; seven for no insurance and 10 for no MOT.

Suffolk Police added that 11 people were tested for drugs, seven of which were positive.

Overweight vehicle fines totalling £2700 were also issued.

The Suffolk Safety Camera Partnership deployed to five sites around the town and detected 35 speeding offences.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued one vehicle with an immediate prohibition order, six were issued with a delayed prohibition notice and seven other vehicles were issued with advisory notices.

Home Office Immigration Officers conducted 10 checks, resulting in two arrests, one for a visa breach and one for illegal entry.

Sergeant Julian Ditcham, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “This was another hugely successful day of action, although it was disappointing to see just seven vehicles of the 81 stopped leave the site clear.

“The figures speak for themselves and demonstrate how we remain determined to work closely with our agency partners to ensure the road network in Suffolk remains a hostile place for criminality of any description.

 “We will continue to hold these operations on a regular basis, to target criminals who either reside in the county, or are travelling through, and also to remove unsafe vehicles and people driving illegally, making Suffolk a safer place to live for everyone.”

Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, added: “This day of action truly lived up to its name; the results clearly show it was an action-packed day.  The officers achieved some tremendous results, proving the worth of these proactive events aimed at keeping criminals and defective vehicles off our county’s roads.

“I fully support this multi-agency approach. Keeping Suffolk’s roads safe and free-flowing is crucially important to all of us living and working in the county, and our Roads Policing Team has a pivotal role in helping to achieve this.

“I would like to congratulate the Constabulary and all the agencies who worked hard to make this joint operation such a success, I believe the results speak for themselves."