Cheshire’s Roads and Crime Unit make 1,650 arrests in 2023

Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit (RCU) made 1,650 arrests during a successful year policing the county’s roads.

The Roads and Crime Unit help to keep Cheshire’s roads safe, acting as the eyes and ears of the road network, and responding to a variety of incidents every day.

Over the course of 2023, the RCU dealt with 1,651 road traffic collisions, 983 concerns for safety incidents, 2841 incidents of disruption, and 2707 police generated incidents, such as proactive stop searches and pursuits.

Not only has their work resulted in more than 1,600 arrests, but they have also helped to remove a number of dangerous drivers and criminals from the streets of Cheshire.

One example of this occurred at around 7.50pm on Wednesday 20 July 2023, when officers on patrol in Culcheth spotted a black Volkswagen Golf on Holdcroft Lane which was displaying false number plates. 

The driver refused to stop for officers, but following a pursuit along Warrington Road, and the wrong way down the M62, officers managed to stop the car and arrest the driver.

Harry Hosker, of Temple House, Glazebrook Lane, Rixton, was subsequently jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving, use of a false number plate, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and possession of Class B drugs (Cannabis).

However, not all road policing consists of pursuits and RCU officers make use of an array of resources in their bid to deny criminals access to the county’s roads.

Another example of their work occurred at around 10am on Sunday 27 March 2023, when officers on patrol in an unmarked vehicle in Ellesmere Port spotted a man who appeared to be inhaling from a balloon.

Keaton Ormerod-Beck, who was not known to police, was driving a black Ford Focus when he was stopped by officers on the A41 and arrested after officers discovered illegal drugs in his car.

A warrant was subsequently conducted at a property linked to Ormerod-Beck, resulting in the recovery of 48,000 nitrous oxide cannisters, valued at approximately £61,400, along with approximately £5000 cash.

The 25-year-old of Chester Road, Ellesmere Port, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 28 June, where he was jailed for five years and four months.

The Roads and Crime Unit can also identify unsafe vehicles that are not road worthy and may pose a risk to other drivers, which can often lead to other more serious offences.

 An example of their work occurred shortly after 1pm on Tuesday 17 January 2023, when officers from the RCU spotted a red Renault Kangoo near to Thelwall viaduct which had a cracked windscreen.

Officers stopped the car and spoke to the two occupants regarding the damage. The driver of car, 36-year-old Derek Miller, was subjected to a roadside breath and drugs test.

Following a positive drugs test, officers went on to search the car and discovered three vacuum bags full of cannabis weighing a total of 26kg, believed to be valued at between £104,000 and £182,000.

Both Miller and the passenger in the car, 46-year-old Mark Lindsey,  subsequently pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.

Miller of Louisville Avenue, Cambusnethan, Wishaw, was jailed for eight months and Lindsey, of Thrashbush Avenue, Cambusnethan, Wishaw, was sentenced to six months in prison. 

Superintendent Saf Ali, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, said:

“The results from last year are an excellent demonstration of the Roads and Crime Unit’s commitment to ensuring our roads remain a safe place for everyone.

 “The sentences secured as a result of the arrests made by the RCU shows the importance of the police’s power to stop and search people they suspect to be breaking the law and is another great example of officers denying those involved in criminality use of Cheshire’s roads.

 “We have a major road network here in Cheshire, which sometimes attracts criminals hoping to pass by undetected, but I hope our work over the past 12 months acts as a reminder that even if you can’t see us, we are always watching.

“We will continue to act as the eyes and ears of the roads, putting a stop to those involved in criminal activity, and ensuring motorists are travelling safely by utilising all the resources at our disposal."