An initiative targeting criminals on the roads is hailed a success.

AN initiative to tackle criminals and unsafe, uninsured drivers celebrated its first year in Hertfordshire with over 1,000 arrests and more than 1,500 unsafe vehicles taken off the road by intercept teams alone.

Operation Sentinel involves not only the two Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) intercept teams but every road policing vehicle, the 94 neighbourhood teams, the Special Constabulary and the Force Communications Room.

The intercept teams arrested 1,065 individuals and seized 1,577 vehicles in the 12 months up to the end of May.

Other teams across the county have also arrested hundreds of people using ANPR to identify them as wanted for offences or the driver of an illegal vehicle.

“We have seen countless successes over the past 12 months with Operation Sentinel, which has undoubtedly contributed to keeping the county a safe place for road users and our residents,” said Chief Constable Frank Whiteley.

“ANPR has proved itself an invaluable tool to modern policing, bringing hundreds of criminals including burglars, drug dealers and dangerous uninsured drivers to justice.

“I’d like to reassure our law-abiding local communities that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those criminals and dangerous, uninsured drivers who put others safety and well-being at risk.”

Officers also tackle those who drive unsafely by talking on their mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt, amongst other offences, with drivers facing fixed penalty notices and points on their licence.