Road police targeting foreign criminals

POLICE are working to disrupt crime by denying foreign criminals the use of South Yorkshire roads.

Officers from the roads policing unit are taking part in an international five-day operation called Trivium 5.

They are conducting road checks and using number plate recognition systems to catch criminals using the county’s network for trafficking, slavery, theft and drugs.

Roads policing Chief Insp Glen Suttenwood said: “I want to make it very clear that this operation is about targeting criminals, not the communities they are from.

“These offenders are intent on blighting the lives of those living, working and visiting our communities, and we are determined to tackle the criminality they are involved in.

“As an example, human trafficking is the second most profitable form of criminality in the world and we will not accept or tolerate anyone who chooses to be involved in this heinous crime.”

Other agencies involved include the Government’s Immigration Enforcement team, the DVLA, European traffic police TISPOL and ACRO Criminal Records Office.

Officers in South Yorkshire are working with colleagues from Humberside Police on cross-border operations.

Chief Insp Suttenwood said: “By working together, we will aim to disrupt this activity and dismantle these groups of criminals.”