Operation Stammtisch aims to sign up more forces before 2010
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OPERATION STAMMTISCH, the police meetand-greet service for truckers, is on track to sign 23 of the UK’s 43 police forces up to the scheme by the end of the year.
The German concept, which loosely translates as ‘regular get-together’, sees police meet with truckers in service stations on the first Wednesday of every month to discuss concerns they may have.
Steve Rounds, CV lead at Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG), says the addition of DyfedPowys Police brings the number of forces involved to 17 since it began in January.
“We are looking to have 23 forces onboard by the end of the year. That number would sufficiently cover the main trunking routes,” adds Rounds.
To date, 950 drivers have taken part; this is expected to rise to 2,000 before the end of the year.
One Lancashire police officer says: “It was felt the police do nothing about foreign drivers flouting rules, but I think we disproved that when we talked to them, and this gave drivers a boost.” On Wednesday 7 October, TC Beverley Bell will attend a ‘get-together’ at Charnock Richard services between Junctions 27 and 28 on the M6.
● See CM next week for an interview with TruckPol boss Alan Soames