One in 10 drivers with no insurance, licence or MOT

One in 10 of drivers stopped by police as part of a targeted campaign across Cannock, Stafford and Lichfield, was found to have no insurance, MOT or licence, figures show.

Officers from Staffordshire Police along with trading standards took part in the operation in a bid to clamp down on road fatalities with 18 vehicles seized for having no insurance, MOT or licence.

Police stopped 150 vehicles using Automatic Number Plate Recognition Systems at key locations including junction 13 and 14 of the M6 at Stafford.

Other sites included the A38 and A5 junction near Lichfield, and junction 11 at the A460 at Cannock.

The operations – which took place on March 7 and March 8 – also saw 11 fixed penalty notices issued for vehcile defects including bald tyres.

The move is part of the police's bid to cut the number of fatal collisions and get criminals off the road.

The operation also saw 12 vehicles reported for driving offences such as having no insurance, using a mobile or not wearing a seatbelt.

And a total of 41 drivers were advised about minor problems with their vehicles.

In addition, a further two drivers were arrested for failing to appear at court and two were prosecuted for not holding waste carrier licences.

Detective Chief Insp Dave Garrett, from Staffordshire Police, said: "This activity is part of our everyday work, carried out routinely by our officers and our partners, to reduce the number of serious injury and fatal collisions in Staffordshire.

"It is also part of our work to target criminals involved in acquisitive crimes, such as theft and burglary, who often use our roads to access the area.

"By focusing on these main routes we are able to cast a net over the south of the county and capture a large selection of vehicles from various locations."

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for communities Pat Corfield said: "Unsafe vehicles put lives at risk and our team was helping by targeting people they thought may be carrying waste illegally."