15 arrests in West Mercia Police road checks operation
Fifteen people were arrested by West Mercia Police as part of a week-long operation targeting foreign national offenders, the force has revealed.
Both West Mercia and Warwickshire Police took part in Operation Trivium, which ran from November 21 to November 25 on roads throughout the whole of the country.
The results have only just been made public. During the operation the two forces stopped a combined total of 353 vehicles, with 182 of those brought to a halt by West Mercia.
Around one in three (33.7 per cent) of those vehicles stopped by both forces were being driven by foreign drivers. No vehicles were seized by West Mercia, but 15 arrests were made.
The arrests were for a range of suspected offences which included modern-day slavery, money laundering and suspicion of clandestine entry.
During the operation Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police engaged with 547 people, and 281 of these were given advice or issued penalties.
Sergeant Geoff Bell, of West Mercia and Warwickshire Police, hailed the operation as a major success for the force.
He said: "Operation Trivium has been a huge success for both of our forces.
"Of the 397 suspects who were arrested in the UK as a result of this operation, 5.2 per cent of those were arrested by Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police.
"We worked alongside the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the National Crime Agency, the Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs.
"Operations like this play a vital part in protecting people from harm.
"We would like to thank everyone for their help and co-operation during this period."
Meanwhile, officers are currently preparing to release details of the Christmas and New Year drink and drug driving campaign which has been carried out in the region.
By the middle of the month, almost 250 people has been arrested during the campaign.
Superintendent Daryn Elton, for West Mercia Police, said 146 drink drivers and 98 drug drivers had been arrested by December 21.
