Road safety operation leads to arrests for burglary, kidnapping and drug driving

Officers from the Alliance Roads Policing Team at Devon & Cornwall Police are entering the second week of Operation Vortex, targeting drivers of all types of vehicles who disregard road traffic laws on roads across Devon and Cornwall.

Officers from the Alliance Roads Policing Team at Devon & Cornwall Police are entering the second week of Operation Vortex, targeting drivers of all types of vehicles who disregard road traffic laws on roads across Devon and Cornwall.

Operation Vortex aims to reduce the number of collisions and casualties, by targeting poor driving as a result of the ‘Fatal Five’ which consists of careless driving, drink/drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, using mobile phones (and other in-car distractions) and speeding.

During week one of the operation, that started on Monday 15 May 2023, officers stopped a total of 98 vehicles.

Six drivers were arrested for drug driving as well as seven people for other offences including aggravated burglary, kidnapping and false imprisonment. A total of 15 drivers have been reported for using mobile phones and nine drivers for failing to have valid insurance. An additional 30 drivers have been caught speeding, five of whom have been reported to court and a number of vehicles have been seized as part of the operation.

A team of officers will be continuing to carry out patrols and observe driver behaviour in unmarked vehicles across Devon and Cornwall this week.

Motor Patrol Constable Richie Roome of the Alliance Roads Policing Team at Devon & Cornwall Police said: “We’re working hard to reduce the number of people killed and injured on the roads of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“It is well known that the ‘Fatal Five’ play a big part in the collisions we see across our force area. Our aim is to make sure that we keep everyone safe on our roads by making sure those who commit offences are caught and dealt with appropriately.”

Op Vortex aims to not only deal with road offences, but to also educate the public of the potential life-changing repercussions of their actions.

Drivers who commit offences could receive a fine and points on their licence, a court appearance and even imprisonment for more serious offences.

Constable Richie Roome continued: “There have been a significant number of very serious collisions on Devon and Cornwall’s roads recently and, sadly, many of these have resulted in a tragic loss of life.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers to be considerate of other road users, and to consider how losing their driving licence would affect them, their employment, their family and their livelihood.

“Law abiding road users have nothing to fear from this operation. Our sole focus is to deal with drivers who are putting other road users at risk and keep everyone on our roads safe.”