Update after major police presence leads to arrests and fines
A major police operation on the Isle of Wight led to drug drive arrests and repercussions for uninsured and unlicensed drivers.
Islanders may have spotted a significant police presence on the Isle of Wight on Wednesday and Thursday (April 17 and 18), amid a large scale operation.
Officers arrested a number of outstanding suspects from crimes such as stalking, domestic abuse, shoplifting and making threats to kill, as well as intercepting driving offenders.
Islanders will likely have seen uniformed officers along Fairlee Road, Blackwater Road and around Cowes.
As a result of the operation, a number of road offences were identified and dealt with, including:
Five drivers arrested on suspicion of drug driving, in addition to multiple other drug wipes conducted on drivers
Four drivers dealt with for having no insurance
One driver dealt with for driving without a licence
Two vehicles seized for having no tax, and a further vehicle stopped for having no tax (which was then purchased at the roadside)
Two drivers caught using their mobile phones
One driver caught speeding
One driver dealt with for having a defective tyre
Two drivers dealt with for having no MOT
One driver dealt with for having an insecure load
One driver dealt with for a vehicle defect
See Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary video below.
You might have seen us this week..
Policing teams across #IOW have joined together as part of proactive efforts to tackle Island criminality.
Sgt Matt Tasker talks through some of the week's activities & further details & images from the week are here >>>https://t.co/FNyLeEQQdN pic.twitter.com/0xs8Rsinj0— Isle of Wight Police (@IOWightPolice) April 19, 2024
Armed response sergeant Matt Tasker, who organised the operation, said: “This operation was a joint venture between the armed response teams, roads policing teams, CID, neighbourhoods teams and district response teams.
“The aim of this operation was in part to identify those criminals who use the Island’s road network to commit crime.
“Police have also been conducting high visibility patrols across the Island.
“Teams across the Island have also been out developing drugs intelligence, and we’ve also arrested a number of outstanding suspects for offences such as stalking, domestic abuse and making threats to kill.