Gwent Police target van drivers (From Free Press Series)

Gwent Police target van drivers

2:50pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News

GWENT police set up special patrols yesterday as part of the nationwide ‘Operation Liberal’.

Vans travelling along the A48 coast road were stopped by police and taken to a factory site near Newport where drivers’ identification and documents were checked.

Multiple agencies took part, including Newport City Council’s trading standards and waste management services, HM Revenue and Customs, VOSA and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Gwent officers worked with South Wales Police to cut off the A48, a route believed to be used by criminals.

Four officers patrolled the roads, while six police constables and four community support officers from Pill and Newport West were on site at Quinn’s Radiator factory.

By 10am, 11 vehicles had been checked, three seizures made including equipment for siphoning diesel and having no insurance, and one arrest.

Nicola Henson, crime and disorder reduction officer for Newport West, said a man was arrested for going equipped to siphon diesel from other vehicles.

See tomorrow’s Argus for the full story.