Crossbow tackles criminals from across the region

Criminals travelling across the between Cheshire borders were greeted with more than a surprise today, Wednesday 9th March, as officers from four forces took part in Operation Crossbow. 

The partnership operation across the east of Cheshire involved officers from Cheshire Police, Greater Manchester 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.

Roads Policing Inspector Steve Griffiths from Cheshire Police, said: “Criminals often rely on the road network to enable them to commit criminal offences. They don’t view force boundaries as a bar to committing these offences and will often cross borders to conduct their activity. There is a link between the illegal use of vehicles and other serious crime.

“Working with partner agencies and colleagues from our neighbouring forces we are deploying a great range of resources and have access to technology and intelligence such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which is an excellent tool to identify offenders and bring them to justice.

“Uninsured drivers pose a threat to other road users and we are able to identify them, take them off the road and make the county’s road network much safer for legal road users.

This is the fifth phase of the Constabulary’s Operation Crossbow, with previous operation resulting in more than 1,000 vehicles stops, more than 100 vehicle seizures and over 30 arrests for offences ranging from burglary to drugs possession to disqualified drivers.

Today’s operation involved more than 150 officers from the four police forces, as well as officers from Central Motorway Policing Group and staff from Customs and Revenue, the Environment Agency and DVSA.

Inspector Steve Griffiths added “Our action today should provide reassurance to our communities that we’re here for justice – that we’re here, when and where you need us to tackle these criminals and get them off our roads.

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

Officers from Cheshire Police 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.