Undercover operation
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/ A five-week undercover police operation has led to Newall & Wright and five drivers facing allegations involving the falsification of tachograph charts and breaches of drivers' hours rules.
This was revealed when cases involving five of the drivers were adjourned until March by Sheffield magistrates. The drivers, who pleaded not guilty, were: Kenneth Biggins, of Langdon Walk, Kimberworth, Rotherham; Roland Hall, of Daffodil Road, Wincobank, Sheffield; George Nowill of St Hoesphe Road, Sheffield; Peter Winks, of Alexander Road, Swallownest, Sheffield; and Edwin Steeden, of Neville Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham.
Prosecuting, Nigel Duckworth said the alleged offences by the five drivers were only a small part of the matters that would ultimately come before the court. The undercover operation had been carried out after information about Newall & Wright was received by the police. On 29 June 1991 the company's premises were raided and a large number of documents seized. Analysis of those documents revealed matters involving other drivers and the company, which would eventually be heard at crown court.
A number of tachograph charts did not reveal any offences. However, Duckworth said that evidence consisting of work schedules, pay claims and video recordings taken at Felixstowe Docks showed them to be false.
The magistrates adjourned the hearing until 26 March, when the company and the other drivers involved are due to appear before them.