As part of an ongoing crackdown against crime, police in Neath have held an operation to deny criminals the use of the road.

Neighbourhood Policing Officers teamed up with colleagues from the Roads Policing Unit and officers from the Automatic Recognition Number Plate (ANPR) team.

Officials from HM Revenue and Customs were also present to test vehicles suspected of being run on red diesel.

Throughout the operation officers checked the number plates of passing cars, searching intelligence databases which highlight vehicles and individuals who are suspected of committing crime, people wanted on warrant and those used by disqualified drivers.

If a suspicious vehicle was identified by ANPR, supporting police vehicles intercepted to carry out checks on the vehicles and their occupants.

The operation was held at High Street in Glynneath and on the link road between the A465 interchange and Stockham’s Corner.

In total, there were four arrests made for offences of theft, motoring offences, possession of cannabis and a breach of a warrant.

Nine motorists were given fixed penalty notices for not wearing a seatbelt, while five vehicles were seized for various offences such as no insurance.

A woman arrested on suspicion of theft of fuel resulted in HM Revenue and Customs staff checking further vehicles at her home address which led to them issuing fines of £1,500 for using red diesel.

Neath Valley Neighbourhood Sergeant Geraint Jenkins said: “This latest one day operation is part of our wider campaign to tackle crime.

“The capability of ANPR technology allows us to check thousands of number plates every hour against intelligence databases. Combining all of this intelligence helps us to deny criminals the use of the roads in the area.

“By joining forces with Revenues and Customs we can target those individuals we suspect of being involved in the use of red diesel in vehicles.”

Source [Welsh Icons]