Operation Colossus returned to Whitehaven on Friday 11 October with over 150 vehicles stopped.
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.
This was highlighted as an issue to the force by our communities, with Whitehaven as one of 15 of the Operation Enhance hotspot locations.
The Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team were also joined by colleagues from the Constabulary’s Operational Support team.
Officers stopped 154 drivers during the operation resulting in four traffic offence reports for driving whilst on a mobile phone, no seatbelt contravening a road sign and tyres.
Two vehicles were also seized for offences of no MOT, no tax and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
A 20-year-old man from Maryport was arrested on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and release on under investigation.
Sergeant Dave Macdonald from Copeland Neighbourhood Policing Team said “Road safety is a priority raised to us by our communities in Whitehaven.
“Whilst we target dangerous drivers every day this operation with our colleagues from operational support helps us take proactive action, whilst also engaging with drivers highlighting the operation.
“I would encourage anyone with concerns about anti-social driving or someone driving dangerously on our roads to report it.”
If you see someone using our roads in a dangerous or anti-social way, please report it to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “I’m pleased to see that Operation Colossus is continuing to be a success at taking dangerous drivers off our roads.
“Keeping Cumbria’s roads safe is a key priority for the me, the Constabulary and residents so it’s vital that we tackle this.
I would encourage the public to continue to report dangerous driving to the Police – it helps build evidence which means we know where to put our resources.
“As Commissioner, I am the residents voice – your voice – in Policing and Fire. If you have any concerns around dangerous driving not being taken seriously in your area, please contact me on 01768 217734 or at commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk.”