Vehicles stopped in police day of action across Dudley

Operation Advance saw 24 hours of intense police action taking place across the borough.

As part of the action, officers from different agencies joined forces to crackdown on issues on the roads.

Police stopped 23 vehicles and six were seized – one for having no insurance, and three for having no road tax.

Four drivers were also advised and 12 traffic offences were reported, West Midlands Police said.

The multi-agency road operation included colleagues from Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley Licencing and Dudley and Birmingham Independent Advisory Groups.

A force spokesperson said: “We are conducting regular operations to promote responsible driving behaviour, reduce road incidents and protect our communities.

“These measures include speed enforcement, road-side educational inputs on safe overtaking of cyclists through Op Close Pass, and community engagement initiatives like Speed Watch.

“We’re also supporting the National Police Chiefs’ Council campaign, known as Op Drive Insured, in partnership with the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which is running until this Sunday (November 26).”

#OpAdvance | After a successful #OpSceptre Week, we're continuing our efforts to reduce knife crime.

ACC Bell has been out visiting officers conducting a knife arch operation in #MerryHill today.

Watch below 👇 pic.twitter.com/hltI2Poc0w

— Brierley Hill Police (@BrierleyHillWMP) November 23, 2023

As well as including a cracking down on motorists flouting the law, Operation Advance saw police out and about, including Chief Supt Anthony Tagg, at Merry Hill where officers carried out a knife arch operation.

Police with Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb and councillor Cat Eccles in Stourbridge Bus Station as part of Operation Advance (Image: West Midlands Police)

Police also took to the streets in Stourbridge with the town’s Tory MP Suzanne Webb and Labour councillor Cat Eccles.

Illegal tobacco and vapes worth £60,000 were also seized in Lye and Brierley Hill, as part of the operation.

Operation Advance follows knife crime crackdown Op Sceptre which saw police putting the focus on preventing knife crime and getting blades off the streets.