Officers from Wallsend identified hot spot areas where uninsured vehicles and unlicensed drivers have been spotted and worked with
partner agencies in a bid to make the borough's roads safer.

This latest initiaitive by Wallsend Neighbourhood Policing Team supports the forcewide summer campaign, 'We Asked, You Said, We Did" which aims to tackle problems raised by local people.

Neighbourhood Inspector Mick Todd, pictured here, said: "This is a road safety operation to deal with illegal vehicles which pose a risk to other road users.

"Drivers of such vehicles are frequently found not to have an MOT certificate for their vehicles.

"Abandoned vehicles can quickly make an area look run-down and we know this is an issue that residents are concerned about as these vehicles can also attract vandals, so we are keen to quickly remove them before this happens.

"The additional police presence has been noticed by the public and when we told them what we were doing several people came forward and identified other vehicles for us to deal with.

"Anyone who has concerns about policing in their community is asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team on 03456 043 043."

In the operation last week one man was arrested for drugs offences, six vehicles were seized for having no insurance, eight summonses were issued and two endorsable fixed penalty tickets were issued, for having faulty tyres and parking on a pelican crossing.

Four non endorsable fixed penalty tickets were issued, 13 prohibition notices and nine vehicles were found by the DVLA to be unlicensed and five vehicle defect notifications were issued.

Owners of unlicensed vehicles must pay a £200 standing charge plus £15 per day storage and when the owner proves they have paid their car tax and the other costs incurred they can retrieve their vehicle.

In some cases, if the owners don't come forward after two weeks the vehicle will be crushed.

Neighbourhood officers were also working with police from the Metro Unit targeting Howdon, Hadrian Road and Wallsend Metro stations to reduce incidents of disorder.

This resulted in staff issuing 101 fixed penalty notices for Metro byelaw offences, three arrests, seven summonses and four alcohol seizures.