Multi-Agency Vehicle Exercise keeping Solihull safe

Solihull’s eighth Multi-Agency Vehicle Exercise (MAVE) took place yesterday (27th April) this time in partnership with the NEC, Immigration, Solihull Licensing Department, Trading Standards, Solihull Police, Warrants Officers, Central Police Motorway Group, DVSA and HMRC.

The operation aims to deny criminals the use of the road and ensures all vehicles identified as a threat or involved in crime are stopped and investigated by the partners present.

No vehicle passes or avoids the operation.

Hundreds of cars have been stopped over the last few months across Solihull.

Yesterday’s operation saw three people arrested by immigration, one man charged £2,150 on the spot by warrants officers for a fine unpaid in 2012 for drink drive, a £533 fine issued by HMRC to a driver illegally using red diesel, over £3,000 of fines imposed for various vehicle offences, 25 vehicles took off the road due to their condition and many vehicles seized for having no insurance.

In addition police and other agencies gained intelligence about various criminals stopped and offered advice to taxis passing through ensuring they were operating legally.

PC Luke Prescott who organises the police response to the operations said: “MAVEs are now an established part of our work as a partnership across the borough aiming to keep the public safe and target offenders using vehicles to commit crime.

“We give no warning and all vehicles that pass are stopped ensuring criminals can’t avoid us and we’re able to take the right people off the road.

“The impact of our action as a partnership is significant, we know offenders are avoiding Solihull as a result and we’ve seriously disrupted those who intend on committing crime in Solihull.

“Indeed they’re right to avoid Solihull, the chance of being caught is high as is the penalty offenders face, you only need to look at the number of vehicles seized today, or the quantity of fines and arrests to know we are making a difference.

The message is clear, come to Solihull and commit crime, we’ll catch you.”

MAVE operations will continue to take place across Solihull.

If you have information about criminal activity and would like to help the partners catch those responsible, please call police on 101 – or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Read more: http://www.solihullgetinvolved.co.uk