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Mermaid trawl catches 861 offences and crimes
Page 13
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• Police have arrested 21 drivers in a national operation targeting hazardous goods, untested trailers and road crime.
The initiative, part of Operation Mermaid, led to a total of 861 alleged offences being detected with 29 prohibitions and 75 verbal warnings. In addition, 163 of the drivers stopped were found to be in breach of the hours regulations and 22 vehicles were running on rebated red diesel.
One company will be reported to the licensing authorities because only two of seven vehicles checked were roadworthy: three had brake defects and two were overweight. Three of its drivers were breaking the hours rags.
PC Mike Woolaghan, co-ordinator of Operation Mermaid, says: "The level of offending does not surprise me as the police and VI are focusing more on particular areas of offending and targeting those people and companies suspected of offending."