Cumbria Police’s dedicated road safety operation – Op Colossus – came to Ulverston yesterday (25 Sept), with more than 80 vehicles stopped during the afternoon.
Operation Colossus is a 15-week road safety operation which has built on Operation Enhance - the Constabulary’s dedicated and long-running anti-social behaviour and serious violence operation – to target dangerous drivers, including those who use vehicles in an anti-social manner.
Operation Colossus is focused on the 15 Operation Enhance hotspots for anti-social behaviour and serious violence around the county.
On Thursday, the Constabulary’s Operational Support team joined local neighbourhood police team officers to target problem issues in Ulverston.
The operation saw a total of 86 vehicles stopped, with 12 drug wipes conducted, as well as three breath tests.
One driver was arrested after failing a roadside drugs wipe. Officers’ attention had initially been drawn by the van driver’s insecure load, before he then failed the drugs test.
The 44-year-old, from the Barrow area, was subsequently released on bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out, including test results.
Officers arrested a second driver on suspicion of dangerous driving, failure to stop and possession of cannabis. He was also found to be driving a vehicle with an expired MOT certificate.
Inspector Alex Johnson of Cumbria Police’s Operational Support Unit said: “Operation Colossus continues to yield results every week as our officers work together to make Cumbria’s roads as safe as possible for all.
“The operation is only around the half-way mark and I can assure the public that – during and beyond Operation Colossus - we will continue targeting dangerous drivers who are acting in a way that puts all road users at risk.
“The drug and drink drivers we catch are the fortunate ones – we have caught them before they are responsible for a collision which ruins not just their own lives but the lives of innocent road users and their families.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “We’re now halfway through Op Colossus and we’re seeing incredibly positive results.
“Cumbria Constabulary police our roads every day of the year to address dangerous and anti-social driving and Op Colossus is a fantastic snapshot of this work.
“Anti-social driving is one of the main issues raised with me as Commissioner, so I hope this Operation provides reassurance to residents that we are listening and addressing their concerns.
“If you still feel that dangerous driving is an issue in your area, please report it to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Building intel helps us ensure that the correct resources are put in the right place.
“You can also write to me. As Commissioner, I am your voice in policing and fire – if you have any concerns, please contact me at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk or 01768 217734.”