Cheshire Police crack down on commercial vehicle crime in national operation

Cheshire Constabulary has carried out a two-week targeted operation to improve road safety, disrupt criminality linked to commercial vehicles and protect communities and road users across the county.

Between 26th January and 6th February, Cheshire Constabulary took part in the National Police Chief Council’s (NPCC) Commercial Vehicle Intensification period, aimed at improving safety on the roads by cracking down on non-compliant Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other commercial vehicles.  

The operation prioritised tackling dangerous and insecure vehicle loads, overloading, drivers’ hours breaches, and preventing commercial vehicles from being exploited for serious and organised crime, while also engaging with drivers and operators to improve safety standards. 

Specialist officers from the Roads Policing Commercial Vehicle Unit carried out intelligence-led, high-visibility stop checks across Cheshire, working alongside the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), National Highways and partners.

This included patrols at service stations to deter thefts from curtain-sided HGVs during drivers’ overnight rest periods, a joint Cheshire and Merseyside CVU operation at Junction 6 of the M53 at Hooton, supported by the DVSA and policing activity focusing on clandestine entry and immigration issues. 

During the two-week period, officers stopped 122 commercial vehicles across Cheshire. Working with partners, they issued 117 traffic offence reports, 48 immediate prohibitions to stop vehicles being driven and arrested 2 drivers for drink / drug drive offences helping to remove unsafe vehicles from the road and disrupt criminal activity. 

Incidents of note included a vehicle travelling from the UK to Spain carrying dangerous goods. The driver had no training to transport hazardous goods and was therefore prohibited. An intel report was submitted to the Spanish authorities via the DVSA to ensure ongoing enforcement and risk mitigation.  

 A joint operation between Cheshire and Merseyside commercial vehicle units also resulted in two arrests at Burtonwood Services. Officers stopped an HGV and the driver was arrested for drug driving after testing positive for cannabis, alongside a further arrest for possession of cannabis. The outcome demonstrates strong partnership working and robust enforcement against those putting other road users at risk.  

 Sergeant Dave Harrison, from Cheshire Police’s Commercial Vehicle Unit, said: 

This type of operation helps to keep people safe on Cheshire’s roads and maintain public confidence in how we police our road network. By visibly targeting unsafe and non-compliant commercial vehicles, as well as organised criminality, we are sending a clear message that dangerous and unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.  

Our work with partners through operations such as this shows our commitment to protecting communities, supporting legitimate drivers and operators, and deterring those who put others at risk.

PC Ken Richardson, also from the Commercial Vehicle Unit, said:

This national commercial vehicle operation enabled us to conduct stop checks across the county to identify commercial vehicles not being used in the correct manner. 

Commercial vehicles carry a significant risk when not used in the way they were designed. Insecure loads, overloaded HGVs, dangerous goods and chemicals, driving without sufficient breaks and those who commit criminal activity are at an increased risk, and sadly we have seen the devastating effects these actions can have.  

We are committed to keeping the roads in Cheshire as safe as possible for all road users, not just during enforcement weeks, but every day.