Police sting at M25 Thurrock services nets 11 arrests

Eleven people have been arrested and 32 vehicles taken off the roads in an Essex Police operation at Thurrock services on the M25.

Officers used number plate recognition cameras to check on driver documents and spot cars linked to crime.

The arrests covered possession of drugs, theft, carrying offensive weapons as well as driving without and tax insurance.

Up to 200 officers were involved in operation.

A total of 32 vehicles were seized for having no insurance, including a car borrowed by a family heading from the Southend area for a camping holiday in the West Country.

The car was taken to a pound until it could be insured.

One man from London, who was taken to the services area for having no insurance, managed to arrange cover over his mobile telephone as he queued to be checked by officers.

He avoided having his car seized but was still given a £200 fixed penalty notice and six penalty points for not being insured at the time he was first seen by police.

Officers specialising in commercial vehicle checks issued 87 mechanical prohibitions on lorries found to have serious faults.

A total of £14,000 was collected in Fixed Penalty Notices for all motoring offences detected.

Sixteen people were reported for other motoring offences.