Operation Crossbow brings results

A number of criminals travelling across the borders between Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire were apprehended yesterday (Wednesday 1 July). 

Operation Crossbow involved Cheshire Police, Greater Manchester Police, Derbyshire Police, Staffordshire Police and West Mercia Police and was aimed at disrupting criminal activity across the region and denying criminals the use of the roads. 

Using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, officers were able to monitor virtually every vehicle which crossed the border between the five counties. 

The operation got off to a successful start when of officers arrested four men on suspicion of burglary as they made their way to the operational briefing in Sandbach. 

In addition to the four arrests for burglary there were also: 
• Over 700 vehicles stops 
• 60 vehicles seized. 
• 23 arrests, Including: 
        > 4 on suspicion of burglary 
        > 3 for possession with intent to supply class A drugs 
        > 2 men wanted on warrant 
        > 2 disqualified drivers 
        > 3 positive roadside drugs tests 
        > 2 on suspicion of theft 
        > 2 on suspicion of affray 

Meanwhile Cheshire Police Chief Constable Simon Byrne was involved on the arrest of a man on the A500 near Crewe who was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and a Dutch lorry driver was fined £680 and had his vehicle seized after her was found to have been driving over the number of legal hours. 

Inspector Stuart York from Cheshire Police, said: “We are relentless in our pursuit of organised crime and will use a whole host of tactics to disrupt criminals working in our region. Criminals do not simply stop committing crimes when they reach the police border, but instead they rely on the road network to enable them to commit criminal offences. 

“There is a strong link between the illegal use of vehicles and other serious and organised crime, which is why we are working together with our colleagues to target these criminals as they travel across the region.” 

This operation was one of the largest that has even been undertaken by Cheshire Constabulary, and involved more than 200 officers from across all five police forces. 

Chief Superintendent Andy Southcott from Cheshire Police said: “This operation was about using joint resources to make the roads in our region a hostile place for travelling criminals who do harm in our communities. 

“We used dedicated resources and ANPR technology to identify and target criminals using the road network and it is heartening to see our partners, which include Driver Vehicles Standards, Cheshire East, the Environment Agency, HMRC, the Licensing Authority and Trading Standards, supported this extensive police operation. 

“The message is clear – you use stolen vehicles, you drive illegally, you travel the roads to commit crime, then we will target you” 

All five forces are keen to remind the public that they too can help keep our roads safer by reporting illegal use of vehicles to the police on 101. Alternatively information can be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.